House again passes GOP tax reform bill, will be put on Trump’s desk
Dec 20, 2017, 10:56 AM | Updated: 11:31 am
(AP Photo)
(AP Photo)
The Republican tax reform bill will head to President Donald Trump’s desk Wednesday after the House passed it for a second time.
The president was expected to sign it into law later that afternoon.
The bill — the biggest tax reform effort in three decades — originally passed the House on Tuesday with a 227-203 margin.
The Senate voted 51-48 to pass it later Tuesday but, because Senate rules required some alterations be made to the bill, the House was forced to re-vote on it.
In the initial House vote, 12 Republicans opposed the bill, along with every Democrat.
One of Arizona’s Republican senators, Jeff Flake, was on the fence about his vote, but ultimately voted in favor of the bill Tuesday night.
Arizona’s other senator, John McCain, missed the vote after heading home early for the holidays.
The bill represents a big win for Republicans and will put a check mark next to one of Trump’s biggest campaign promises.
The $1.5 trillion package would provide steep tax cuts for businesses and the wealthy and more modest cuts for middle- and low-income families. The business tax cuts would take effect in January. Workers would start to see changes in the amount of taxes withheld from their paychecks in February.
The bill would nearly double the standard deduction used by most taxpayers, while those who itemize would lose some deductions.
Several protesters were removed prior to the first House vote. Some Democratic lawmakers applauded.
The last protester escorted out of the gallery nodded toward the Democrats and said, “thank you.” Republicans did not applaud, but several could be seen smiling.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
