The Senate this Wednesday witnessed a firm commitment from the Republicans to stand together on debating and amending the tax reform bill that could end up as their biggest legislative success since they took the White House.
A 52-48 vote saw all GOP Senators vote to take up the House-passed legislation for debate, with clear dissent from the Democrats.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell urged Senators ahead of the vote, saying that they’d get a chance to amend the bill on the Senate floor.
If the chamber can approve its legislation this week, it will give Congress a little under a month to come to a consensus. The Wednesday vote gives Senate members 20 hours of additional debate time, during which any member can demand a vote on an amendment.
The vote-a-rama is expected to take place on Thursday, but the fact that 52 Republicans agreed to the debate is by no means a guarantee that they will support the tax reform bill in its current form.
Several Republicans have already voiced their misgivings, so we should be able to see a lively debate on literally hundreds of minor potential changes being filed during the process.
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