Second Republican senator announces 'no' vote on tax legislation

Sen. Steve Daine.
(Image credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

On Monday, Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) joined Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) as the second official Republican "no" vote on the GOP tax legislation, Fox Business reports. Daines expressed concern over how the cuts "impact Main Street versus big companies," a staffer said, though "he is optimistic" about potential changes ahead. With a slim 52-to-48 Senate majority, Republicans can only afford two defections and still pass the bill.

In an op-ed Monday, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) announced his support of the bill, writing: "I'm ... pleased to note that, in part by my urging, the Senate tax-plan writers have included repeal of the ObamaCare individual mandate in the tax plan." Several other Republicans remain on the fence due to concerns about the deficit or consequences to small businesses, Politico notes, including Sens. Bob Corker (Tenn.), Jeff Flake (Ariz.), Susan Collins (Maine), and Jerry Moran (Kan.).

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.