GOP tax bill markup in House Ways and Means Committee hearing

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Today’s Hill Action
Senate Floor Schedule
9:30am: Convene and proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the nomination of William L. Wehrum to be an Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Committee Hearings
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
9:30am – SR-328A

Armed Services
10:00am – SD-G50

Judiciary
10:00am – SD-226

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
10:30am – SD-342

House Floor Schedule
12:00pm: House will meet for morning hour.
2:00pm: House will meet for legislative business.
Votes will be postponed until 6:30pm.

Committee Hearings
Foreign Affairs
Science, Space, and Technology
Subcommittee on Space
9:30am – 2318 Rayburn HOB

Energy and Commerce
Subcommittee on Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection
10:00am – 2123 Rayburn HOB

Energy and Commerce
Subcommittee on Environment
10:15am – 2322 Rayburn HOB

Armed Services
Subcommittee on Readiness
10:30am – 2212 Rayburn HOB
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House leaders race to round up tax votes

House GOP leaders are using a mix of behind-the-scenes cajoling and warnings about losing the majority to corral their oft-fractured conference on tax reform.

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise’s team has been pulling district-by-district data to prove to skeptical lawmakers from high-tax states that their constituents will see a tax cut under the plan. That strategy successfully flipped Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-N.J.) from a “no” last week to a “lean-yes” over the weekend.

But leadership sources say the toughest part of the whipping effort has yet to begin. That’s because on Thursday, the Senate will release its own tax bill that is expected to upend some of the House’s careful negotiating. The Ways and Means Committee will also finish consideration of the bill this week, slamming the door shut on any last-minute changes sought by Republicans from across the conference.

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Senate set for clash with House on tax bill

Senate Republicans are set to unveil a tax-reform bill that differs significantly from legislation in the House, setting up a battle within the GOP as it tries to hand President Trump his first major legislative victory.

Tax-writers in the Senate are expected to eliminate the deduction for state and local taxes in their legislation, a break with House Republicans, who have proposed keeping it in place for property taxes up to $10,000.

About two dozen House Republicans from high-tax states had insisted on the $10,000 exemption in the bill, saying it was critical to ease the financial impact on their constituents.

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Democrats emboldened after elections – but still wary of shutdown talk

There are two words never to be uttered in the Democratic caucus: government shutdown.

That’s even true after Democrats were emboldened by their sweeping election victories this week.

Democratic leaders are preaching caution to their caucus as they head into year-end funding negotiations with increased political momentum, even as the party’s left flank vows to withhold votes from any must-pass spending bill without a legislative fix for Dreamers.

Courting a shutdown over young undocumented immigrants risks playing into the GOP’s hands with final funding talks still weeks away, senior Democrats warn.

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