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U.S. NEWS Monday 4 deceMber 2017
Senate Democrats stand united against GOP tax bill

Continued from Front copy of the 479-page tax
bill he had been handed
Trump said Saturday, “We minutes before. One page
got no Democrat help and was filled with scribbled
I think that’s going to cost policy changes that Tester
them in the election be- said he could not be read.
cause they voted against “This is Washington, D.C., at
tax cuts. I don’t think po- its worst,” he complained.
litically it’s good to vote Heitkamp, who is seeking a
against tax cuts.” second term next year, said
Democrats argued that the the bill’s toll on the national
unpopularity of the tax bill debt made her vote easy.
with its deep cuts for busi- “The risk is for the fiscal re-
ness and the wealthy and sponsibility for this coun-
modest changes for many try,” she said. “We all owe
Americans made their a much higher debt — not
votes relatively easy. Mul- to a political party or a re-
tiple polls show the tax bill election, but to the people
is supported by less than of this country.”
40 percent of voters. And Manchin, who like Heit-
Democrats recall a pain- kamp was considered for a
ful political lesson: In 2010, job in Trump’s Cabinet, said
Democrats backed the he told Trump he wanted
unpopular health care bill Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., speaks, as she is accompanied by Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., left, to “get to yes” on the tax
and lost their House major- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., during a news bill but could not support
ity months later. conference about their hopes for a bipartisan approach to tax reform on Capitol Hill in Washington. the bill as drafted by GOP
“My Republican friends (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) leaders. “Millionaires, bil-
must know that ‘we need- her vote against the tax ple, and he is among the trillion to the national debt. lionaires and gazillion-
ed to notch a political win’ bill — and Trump — “is not people it is helping.” “It’s a horrible bill,” said Sen. aires should not have tax
isn’t a good enough ex- risky as long as I do the hard Schumer hasn’t had to do Jon Tester of Montana, one breaks,” Manchin said in an
cuse for a constituent who work in making sure Missou- a lot of arm twisting with of the vulnerable Demo- interview. “That’s what the
asks why you voted to raise rians understand what’s in a caucus whose politics crats up for re-election in a president told me: It was
their taxes but slash them the bill.” range from liberal Sen. Ber- state Trump won easily. not going to be for the rich.
for big corporations,” Sen- Trump went to her state nie Sanders, I-Vt., to Man- A third-generation farmer, Well, the bill I have in front
ate Democratic leader “and told Missourians chin, according to a senior Tester said if he imposed of me is not the bill that he
Chuck Schumer said Friday. something that just wasn’t aide. Democrats said they debt on his family farm at talked about” at a White
Missouri Sen. Claire Mc- true,” McCaskill said. “This had reasons enough to op- a rate similar to the tax bill, House dinner in September.
Caskill, who was singled out bill is not helping teach- pose the GOP bill, which “my kids would go broke.” Republicans looking to
for criticism by Trump at a ers and police officers and while slashing tax rates Hours before the final vote, unseat Democrats next
campaign-style event in construction workers. This for corporations and the Tester released a video on year were ready with their
Missouri this past week, said bill is helping wealthy peo- wealthy adds more than $1 Twitter showing him with a criticism.q

McConnell: No government shutdown this week over immigration

Continued from Front R-Ariz., said he received Still, Republicans are not
commitments from party entirely unified, with GOP
Congress faces a Friday leaders and the adminis- conservatives concerned
deadline to fund the gov- tration to work with him on they are being set up for
ernment through the end restoring “Dreamer” pro- a massive pre-Christmas
of next September. tections in exchange for his spending deal they won’t
Democrats and a few Re- vote early Saturday on the like. That raises the likeli-
publicans have suggested tax overhaul bill. hood that some Demo-
they may not vote for gov- President Donald Trump cratic votes will be needed
ernment funding without backs the immigration to approve new funding
the protections for tens of safeguards despite issuing to keep the government
thousands of young immi- an executive order revers- open.
grants, known as “Dream- ing the Obama-era protec- On Sunday, White House
ers,” who are currently pro- tions, officially called De- Budget Director Mick Mul-
tected by an Obama ad- ferred Action for Childhood vaney was equivocal
ministration program. That Arrivals, or DACA. about shutdown prospects,
program is set to expire in Talks on a budget agree- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., reacts to a but said he didn’t think it
March. ment are likely to restart reporter’s question during a news conference Saturday, Dec. would happen even with a
Meanwhile, some Republi- this week after a setback 2, 2017, in Louisville, Ky. The Senate passed the tax bill early “broken” system of spend-
cans are divided over what last week when top Demo- Saturday morning with a 51-49 vote. ing.
programs the government crats pulled out of a meet- (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley) “It’s funny to see now that
should pay for, and how ing with Trump after he at- ning, calling the demand down the government over the Republicans are in
much. tacked them on Twitter. for action on DACA by a non-emergency that we charge I think there’s a
GOP Rep. Carlos Curbelo On Sunday, McConnell in- year’s end “ridiculous.” can address anytime be- group of right-wingers in
of Florida has joined Dem- sisted the GOP-controlled “I don’t think the Demo- tween now and March,” the House who say they
ocrats on the immigration Congress will be able to crats would be very smart McConnell said. “There is want to shut the govern-
issue, while Sen. Jeff Flake, keep the government run- to say they want to shut no crisis.” ment down.” q