Red state Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin (WV), Joe Donnelly (IN), and Heidi Heitkamp (ND) announced on Tuesday that they will be voting against the Republican tax bill.
CNBC’s Ylan Q. Mui reported:
Amid shaky GOP support, Manchin, Heitkamp and Donnelly say they won’t back current Senate tax bill
— Ylan Q. Mui (@ylanmui) November 28, 2017
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For Trump and Republicans, Heitkamp’s decision to vote no was especially crushing. Trump had been trying to woo Sen. Heitkamp into supporting his tax cut bill since September. Heitkamp flew to North Dakota with the President on Air Force One and was the only Democratic lawmaker invited on stage at Trump’s event in the state. Trump openly asked for her support during the event, but the Democratic Senator will be voting no.
The idea that Republicans could support a bill that cut taxes for wealthy and Medicare while tossing 13 million people off of their health insurance was always a fantasy that wasn’t in touch with reality.
Republican support for the tax cut bill is shaky at best, Trump and McConnell were hoping to pick up a few Democrats to sneak the bill through the Senate, but it looks like Republicans will be walking the plank alone on this vote. The tax cuts for the rich are on the brink of death, and Trump is going to get zero help from Democrats to bring them back to life.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
