Republican tax cuts in doubt as Rubio joins the revolt

Senator Marco Rubio, the former Republican presidential candidate, has cast doubt over the passage of his party’s latest tax bill, announcing he will vote against it unless the child tax credit is increased.

The bill, which would cut taxes for high-earners, is seen as the last chance for a legislative success in the first year of Trump’s administration. “With Democrats unanimously opposed to the plan, Republicans can afford to lose no more than two members of their caucus in a final vote,” says The Washington Post.

Rubio is joined by his amendment’s co-sponsor, Republican Senator Mike Lee, who is “undecided on the overall bill and pushing to make the credit as generous as possible”, Time says.

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And “Senator Bob Corker, who voted against the Senate version of the bill because of its projected additions to the deficit, says he’s reviewing the final version but is expected to oppose it as well,” The Washington Post reports.

In the event of a deadlock, Vice President Mike Pence would exercise his vote to allow the bill to pass. He has cancelled a planned trip to Israel and Egypt next week to make sure he would be present if his vote is required.