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U.S. NEWS Saturday 2 december 2017

AP: Conservatives At Press Time:
rebel against GOP GOP nears Senate OK of tax bill after flurry of deals
plan on shutdown

By ANDREW TAYLOR fore opposition Democrats
Associated Press and lobbying groups could
WASHINGTON (AP) — Hard- blow it up. The party views
right conservatives are re- passage as crucial to re-
belling against a plan by taining its House and Sen-
House GOP leaders for a ate majorities in next year’s
two-week reprieve from a elections.
possible government shut- Democrats derided the bill
down next week. as a GOP gift to its wealthy
Speaker Paul Ryan and and business backers at the
other GOP leaders want expense of lower-earning
to set a new government people. They contrasted
shutdown deadline just the bill’s permanent reduc-
prior to Christmas to give tion in corporate income
time for talks with Demo- tax rates from 35 percent
crats on the budget, hurri- to 20 percent to individual
cane relief and other unfin- tax breaks that would end
ished business. Right now, in 2026.
Washington faces a Dec. 8 Congress’ nonpartisan
deadline. Joint Committee on Taxa-
But conservatives said Fri- tion has said the bill’s re-
day that they fear the new ductions for many families
Dec. 22 deadline means would be modest and said
they’ll get legislation they by 2027, families earning
don’t like jammed through. Telling reporters “we have the votes,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., walks to the under $75,000 would on
Democrats won’t commit chamber after a closed-door meeting with Republican lawmakers to advance the stalled GOP average face higher, not
to helping the GOP pass overhaul of the tax code, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Dec. 1, 2017. lower, taxes.
the two-week funding bill. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) “Every time the choice is
They want assurances that By ALAN FRAM erty taxes. nosaur on the fiscal issues,” between corporations and
immigrants brought illegal- MARCY GORDON Party leaders hoped for said Sen. Bob Corker, R- families, the Republicans
ly to the U.S. as children will Associated Press Senate approval later Fri- Tenn., the only announced choose corporations,” said
be given protection from WASHINGTON (AP) — Re- day on a measure that fo- GOP opponent, who bat- Senate Minority Leader
deportation — and many publicans used a burst of cuses the bulk of its tax re- tled to keep the measure Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
insist that it pass this year. eleventh-hour horse-trad- ductions on businesses and from worsening the govern- The bill hit rough waters
If Democrats don’t provide ing Friday to edge a $1.4 higher-earning individuals, ment’s accumulated $20 Thursday after the Joint
the votes to prevent a shut- trillion tax bill to the brink of gives more modest breaks trillion in IOUs. Taxation panel concluded
down, Republicans would Senate passage, as a party to others and would be the The Republican-led House it would worsen federal
have to pass a temporary starved all year for a ma- boldest rewrite of the na- approved a similar bill last shortfalls by $1 trillion over
spending bill, known as a jor legislative triumph took tion’s tax system since 1986. month in what has been a a decade, even when fac-
“continuing resolution,” on a giant step toward giving Republicans touted the stunningly swift trip through toring in economic growth
their own. President Donald Trump package as one that Congress for legislation that lower taxes would
Majority Leader Kevin Mc- one of his top priorities by would benefit people of that impacts the breadth stimulate.
Carthy insists “it’ll be fine” Christmas. all incomes and ignite the of American society and is Trump administration of-
and that they want to get “We have the votes,” Sen- economy. Even an official hundreds of pages long. ficials and many Republi-
all the work done. ate Majority Leader Mitch projection of a $1 trillion, After spending the year’s cans have insisted the bill
“Look, two weeks isn’t very McConnell, R-Ky., declared 10-year flood of deeper first nine months futilely would pay for itself by stim-
long,” said McCarthy, R- after leaders swayed hold- budget deficits couldn’t trying to repeal President ulating the economy.
Calif. “We want to keep up out senators by agreeing dissuade nearly all GOP Barack Obama’s health But the sour projec-
the pressure up.” to fatten tax breaks for mil- senators from rallying be- care law, GOP leaders tions stiffened resistance
But conservatives fear a lions of businesses and let hind the bill. were determined to move from some deficit-averse
torrent of spending bills people deduct local prop- “Obviously I’m kind of a di- the measure rapidly be- Republicans.q
and legislation to shore
up Obamacare insurance
issues Trump denies Tillerson out as US secretary
markets, and also worry
that immigration
would be addressed in the
year-end crunch. By MATTHEW LEE tivities, including two meet- tweet was Trump’s stron- for a previously scheduled
“I am a hard no on any AP Diplomatic Writer ings with Trump, the presi- gest endorsement of his top meeting. On Friday, Tiller-
(continuing resolution) WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- dent said his secretary of diplomat since senior White son attended two meetings
ending the week of Christ- dent Donald Trump on Fri- state is “not leaving.” “The House officials on Thursday at the White House with
mas,” said Rep. Louie day denied he wants to media has been speculat- began telling reporters Trump — one with Libya’s
Gohmert, R-Texas. “That oust Secretary of State Rex ing that I fired Rex Tillerson that a plan had been de- visiting prime minister and
tells me that they have an Tillerson, calling reports to or that he would be leaving vised to push Tillerson out then a lunch with the presi-
absolutely horrible bill that that effect “fake news,” as soon - FAKE NEWS!” Trump and replace him with CIA dent and Defense Secre-
they want to try to jam his top diplomat brushed tweeted. “He’s not leaving chief Mike Pompeo. Im- tary James Mattis. Before
through.” off speculation that he and while we disagree on mediately after reports of those meetings, Tillerson
With the additional two has lost the confidence of certain subjects, (I call the the plan emerged, Trump told reporters at the State
weeks, congressional lead- the White House. As Tiller- final shots) we work well to- offered only tepid support Department that specula-
ers in both parties hope son went about his normal gether and America is high- for Tillerson, noting only that tion he was on his way out
that talks over spending.q schedule of diplomatic ac- ly respected again!”The he was at the White House was “laughable.”q