Vice President Mike Pence's tiebreaking vote wasn't needed. After midnight on Wednesday, the Senate passed the GOP's $1.5 trillion tax plan along party lines, 51-48, sending the legislation back to the House for final approval. The House had passed the bill Tuesday, 227-203 — with 12 Republicans and all Democrats voting no — but because the bill violated arcane parliamentary rules in place due to Senate Republicans using a special veto-proof process, House Republicans will have to approve it again Wednesday.
Overall, the sweeping tax law slashes the corporate tax rate to 21 percent from 35 percent, lowers the top rate for the richest Americans, and gives more modest tax cuts to everyone else. The corporate tax rates don't expire, but the individual cuts sunset in 2026. There are lots of other provisions that collectively will affect every American. It is projected to add $1.46 trillion to the deficit over 10 years. Republicans cheered on the Senate floor after the vote, while a man with an eye patch in the Senate gallery shouted, "You have sentenced me to die!"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
'Republicans want to silence Israel's opponents'Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Poland, Germany nab alleged anti-Ukraine spiesSpeed Read A man was arrested over a supposed Russian plot to kill Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
-
Today's political cartoons - April 19, 2024Cartoons Friday's cartoons - priority delivery, USPS on fire, and more
-
Amazon ending 'Just Walk Out' grocery checkoutSpeed Read In its place, the company will let customers scan while they shop with Amazon Dash Cart
-
Justice Department bites Apple with iPhone suitSpeed Read The lawsuit alleges that the tech company monopolized the smartphone industry
-
House votes to force TikTok to sell or face US banspeed read The House passed a bill to ban TikTok on national security grounds unless it sells to a non-Chinese company
-
Apple kills its secret electric car projectSpeed Read Many of the people from Project Titan are being reassigned to work on generative AI
-
Cellphone use may be lowering sperm countSpeed Read Electromagnetic radiation could be affecting male fertility
-
Nasa reveals first findings from asteroid that could explain origins of lifeSpeed Read Sample from Bennu has been found to contain an abundance of water and carbon
-
NYPD to monitor Labor Day parties using surveillance dronesSpeed Read
-
Elon Musk announces change to Twitter logoSpeed Read
