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U.S. NEWS Friday 15 december 2017
Illness sidelines McCain, Cochran as epic tax vote nears

Continued from Front dramatic turn, he later cast
a deciding vote against the
When he returned in Republican health care bill,
October, he appeared earning the wrath of Trump
frail. and other Republicans.
His absence this week is But McCain’s condition
unrelated to his prior illness, has appeared to worsen
according to his office. The lately. He suffered a minor
outpatient procedure on tear in his right Achilles
his nose “ended up being tendon, forcing him to
more extensive than what wear a walking brace. He
the physician or the senator eventually began using a
expected,” a spokesman wheelchair with members
said. of his staff assisting him.
McCain’s closest friend on Brain tumors and their
Capitol Hill, Sen. Lindsey treatments can cause
Graham, R-S.C., told an array of side effects,
reporters that he spoke including fatigue, cognitive
with McCain’s wife, Cindy, changes, and mood
earlier in the week and was changes, according to
optimistic McCain would the American Brain Tumor
be back to work soon. Association.
Graham dismissed the Other members of the
idea McCain should rush Armed Services panel
his recovery to vote on the Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., leaves a closed-door session where Republican senators met on the said they hadn’t talked
GOP tax bill even though GOP effort to overhaul the tax code, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Dec. 1, 2017. to McCain recently and
the margin for Senate (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) didn’t know when he’d be
passage is expected to be longtime McCain priority — forward to returning to work glioblastoma. It’s the same back. But they described
slim. into law. as soon as possible, the type of tumor that killed him as a fighter who’d be
“John, take a little time, rest McCain’s office said late statement said. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy able to beat the odds.
up. It’s OK to take a day or Wednesday that he is Now in his sixth Senate term, at age 77 in 2009. “With Senator McCain, he
two off,” Graham said. at Walter Reed National McCain underwent surgery McCain rebounded could show up at any time
McCain did not attend a Military Medical Center in mid-July to remove quickly, however, returning and just say, ‘If we’ve got
White House ceremony in Maryland receiving a 2-inch (51-millimeter) to Washington and work to do I’m going to
held Tuesday for President treatment for the “normal blood clot in his brain after entering the Senate on July be there,’” said Sen. Mike
Donald Trump to sign the side effects of his ongoing being diagnosed with an 25 to a standing ovation Rounds, R-S.D. “That’s his
annual defense bill — a cancer therapy.” He looks aggressive tumor called a from his colleagues. In a style.”q

Rubio’s defection threatens

Senate GOP’s tax bill margin

By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER code leading into it, I can’t
MARCY GORDON in good conscience sup-
Associated Press port it unless we are able
WASHINGTON (AP) — Re- to increase the refundable
publican Sen. Marco Ru- portion of it. And there’s
bio declared Thursday he ways to do it, and we’ll be
will vote against the GOP’S very reasonable about it,”
sweeping tax package un- Rubio said.
less negotiators expand The legislation, still being fi-
its child tax credit, jeop- nalized, would cut the top
ardizing the Republicans’ tax rate for the wealthiest
razor-thin margin as they earners — Trump among
try to muscle the $1.5 tril- them — from 39.6 percent
lion bill through Congress to 37 percent, slash the
next week. Rubio wants corporate income tax rate
to increase the portion of from 35 percent to 21 per-
the basic $2,000-per-child cent and allow homeown-
tax credit that would go ers to deduct interest only
to low-income families. In on the first $750,000 of a
the current bill, families that new mortgage.
pay little or no income tax If Senate Republicans lose
would get only $1,100 per Rubio and also Sen. Bob
child. Rubio wants that Corker of Tennessee, who
amount increased, but he voted against the original
didn’t specify an amount. bill, the vote would stand
Under current law, the tax at 50-50, with Vice Presi-
credit is $1,000. dent Mike Pence prepared
“Given all the other chang- to cast the tie-breaker for
es they made in the tax passage. q For reservations: 525-4000 ext. 172 or through www.asiesmiperuenaruba.com @ Paradise Beach Villas