Wheelin’ and Dealin’ McConnell in Full Force on GOP Tax Bill

Wheelin’ and Dealin’ McConnell in Full Force on GOP Tax Bill-rollcall: Senate Republicans on Wednesday evening got the necessary votes to launch debate on the party’s measure to overhaul the U.S. tax code. But this came after a day of backroom deal-making by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell that could lead to several major changes to the current version of the legislation.

In House, California Dreamin’ on Tax Deductions

In House, California Dreamin’ on Tax Deductions-rollcall: House Republican leaders and tax writers are working to at least partially revive the state and local income tax deduction in a bid to solidify support from California GOP lawmakers in any final tax bill.

Health Nominee Grilled on Commitment to Lower Drug Prices

Health Nominee Grilled on Commitment to Lower Drug Prices-nytimes: Alex M. Azar II, President Trump’s nominee for secretary of health and human services, said Wednesday that he would try to reduce the burden of high drug costs, but he largely absolved drug companies from blame, placing the responsibility on a system that encourages price increases on medicines.

Senate committee advances GOP tax bill, moving closer to floor vote

Senate committee advances GOP tax bill, moving closer to floor vote-cnbc: The Senate Budget Committee on Tuesday approved the Republican tax bill, a crucial procedural step toward a vote by the full chamber later this week.

In Trump health secretary pick, Dems have questions but hope

In Trump health secretary pick, Dems have questions but hope-ap: President Donald Trump’s pick for health secretary is a former pharmaceutical company executive who already has drawn heat from Democrats over his ties to the pharmaceutical industry. But as Alex Azar faces his first nomination hearing, even some of those critics see signs he could shift the health care debate away from partisan confrontation.

Democrats Hold Cards on Year-End Talks With Trump, GOP

Democrats Hold Cards on Year-End Talks With Trump, GOP-rollcall: After a mid-day visit to the Capitol — his second in as many weeks — President Donald Trump will host congressional leaders at the White House on Tuesday, as Democrats look to cash in on a deal they struck with him in September to push debt and spending questions to Dec. 8.

Looming Spending Deadline Leads to Tax Consideration Crunch

Looming Spending Deadline Leads to Tax Consideration Crunch-rollcall: If the tax reconciliation bill somehow doesn’t make it to the Senate floor this week, it may have to wait until much closer to Christmas.

Tax reform hangs in balance in critical week for GOP

Tax reform hangs in balance in critical week for GOP-politico: It’s do-or-die time for Senate Republicans on tax reform.

He Raised Drug Prices at Eli Lilly. Can He Lower Them for the U.S.?

He Raised Drug Prices at Eli Lilly. Can He Lower Them for the U.S.?-nytimes: Alex M. Azar II, President Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, has expressed concern about the soaring cost of prescription drugs for many consumers. This week, Mr. Azar, a former pharmaceutical executive, is expected to face tough questions at a Senate confirmation hearing over why his own company raised prices.

Collins' tax vote may hinge on a health care bill. Here's how it works

Collins' tax vote may hinge on a health care bill. Here's how it works -axios: Sen. Susan Collins has suggested she'd vote for a tax bill repealing the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate only if Congress also passes separate legislation to establishing a new reinsurance fund.

Groups make year-end push to delay ObamaCare taxes

Groups make year-end push to delay ObamaCare taxes-thehill: Industry groups are gearing up for a final push to repeal or delay taxes in ObamaCare before the end of the year.

Trump's Post-Thanksgiving Tax Bill Hopes Hang on Four Key Senators

Trump's Post-Thanksgiving Tax Bill Hopes Hang on Four Key Senators-rollcall: When the Senate resumes work after Thanksgiving on its version of a tax bill, White House correspondent John T. Bennett says President Donald Trump has his work cut out for him trying to get to the 50 GOP votes necessary to pass. Who are the ‘no’ votes now and who could potentially flip?

The GOP’s Strategy for Killing Obamacare Now Looks Like This

The GOP’s Strategy for Killing Obamacare Now Looks Like This-bloomberg businessweek: The mandate to buy health insurance is the broccoli of Obamacare—the part you have to accept if you want the goodies, like affordable coverage of people with costly pre-existing conditions. Now Senate Republicans are saying you don’t have to eat your broccoli anymore. They eliminate the penalty for lack of coverage in their version of the $1.5 trillion tax cut bill, which they aim to vote on after Thanksgiving.

After House Vote on Taxes, Spotlight Shifts to Undecided Senators

After House Vote on Taxes, Spotlight Shifts to Undecided Senators-nytimes: The fast-moving Republican effort to overhaul the tax code now rests in the hands of a small number of fence-sitting senators with disparate concerns, like how small businesses are taxed and whether health insurance costs will spike after the repeal of the Affordable Care Act’s requirement to have coverage or pay a penalty.

Under Trump, U.S. Companies Face a Rough Road on Trade

Under Trump, U.S. Companies Face a Rough Road on Trade-politico: In October 2015, as President Barack Obama was hoping to rush the newly signed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal through Congress, he invited leaders of the pharmaceutical industry in the White House. The industry had emerged as a key obstacle to the largest free trade agreement in history, insisting that TPP didn’t provide enough protection for an expensive class of nature-based drugs called biologics.

 

In Democrat-led state capitals, GOP tax reform push could scramble fiscal plans

In Democrat-led state capitals, GOP tax reform push could scramble fiscal plans-politico: The Republican tax reform push in Washington is setting off budgetary alarm bells in high-tax states like New York, California and New Jersey, in the latest political skirmish to pit national Republicans against Democratic state and big-city leaders.

Senate Finance Committee approves GOP tax reform plan

Senate Finance Committee approves GOP tax reform plan -politico: The Senate's tax-writing committee this evening approved Republicans' sweeping plan to overhaul the tax code.

House passes GOP tax bill, upping pressure on struggling Senate effort

House passes GOP tax bill, upping pressure on struggling Senate effort-washingtonpost: House Republicans on Thursday passed legislation that would overhaul the U.S. tax code, a crucial step forward in their effort to enact the centerpiece of President Trump’s economic agenda.

Senate Finance Committee approves GOP tax reform plan

Senate Finance Committee approves GOP tax reform plan-politico: The Senate's tax-writing committee this evening approved Republicans' sweeping plan to overhaul the tax code.

Tax bill teed up for House vote

Tax bill teed up for House vote-politico: House Republicans are set to pass a sweeping rewrite of the tax code Thursday, bringing President Donald Trump and the GOP closer to the major legislative win they so desperately want. And leadership apparently barely lifted a finger to whip votes this week.

The GOP’s ‘Vote and Hope’ Caucus

The GOP’s ‘Vote and Hope’ Caucus-rollcall: Many House Republicans planning to vote “yes” on their tax bill Thursday are doing so with the understanding the measure is far from perfect and hoping their concerns will be addressed later during House and Senate conference negotiations.

Vulnerable Republicans in Political Catch-22 on Tax Overhaul

Vulnerable Republicans in Political Catch-22 on Tax Overhaul-rollcall: It’s decision time on the ultimatum Republican leaders have been issuing to members all fall: Pass a tax overhaul or wave the House majority goodbye.

HHS Pick at Odds With Trump’s Rhetoric on Drug Prices

HHS Pick at Odds With Trump’s Rhetoric on Drug Prices-rollcall: President Donald Trump’s tweet Monday announcing former pharmaceutical executive Alex Azar as his choice to lead the Department of Health and Human Services boasted that Azar “will be a star for better healthcare and lower drug prices!”

Hatch adds repeal of Obamacare mandate to tax bill

Hatch adds repeal of Obamacare mandate to tax bill-politico: Senate Republicans have added the repeal of Obamacare’s individual mandate to the latest version of their tax bill, with several key swing votes saying they’re open to the idea.

House panel sets up floor debate on GOP tax reform bill

House panel sets up floor debate on GOP tax reform bill-thehill: House Republicans' tax reform bill is set to reach the floor with no amendments, despite a push from some conservatives to include a repeal of the individual mandate.

GOP leaders bullish tax bill will pass the House this week

GOP leaders bullish tax bill will pass the House this week -politico: Republican leaders are confident they have the votes to pass their once-in-a-generation tax reform bill in the House this week.

Ready or Not, House Republicans Set Vote on Tax Overhaul

Ready or Not, House Republicans Set Vote on Tax Overhaul-rollcall: The scenario is all too familiar: House Republican leaders schedule a floor vote on a major legislative priority and exude confidence the bill will pass despite a chorus of rank-and-file concern

Five Wacky and Wonky Provisions in the Senate Tax Bill

Five Wacky and Wonky Provisions in the Senate Tax Bill-rollcall: Senate Finance Chairman Orrin G. Hatch released Thursday a summary of the panel’s legislation to overhaul the U.S. tax code that would dramatically lower the corporate tax rate, increase the child tax credit, remove popular tax exemptions many Americans take and nearly double the standard deduction for individuals and families.

House Panel Approves GOP Tax Measure

House Panel Approves GOP Tax Measure-rollcall: The House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday approved the Republican tax plan after making key changes such as raising repatriation tax rates on corporate cash held abroad, restoring the adoption child credit and changing the bill’s treatment of “pass-through” businesses.

House Republicans Raise Red Flags Over Senate Tax Bill

House Republicans Raise Red Flags Over Senate Tax Bill-rollcall: The tax overhaul bill the Senate released Thursday could create problems in negotiations with the House, given its divergence on key areas like the estate tax and the state and local tax deduction.

Senate Republicans Will Diverge From House in Sweeping Tax Rewrite

Senate Republicans Will Diverge From House in Sweeping Tax Rewrite-nytimes: Senate Republicans, under pressure to pass a sweeping tax rewrite before year’s end, are expected to unveil legislation on Thursday that would eliminate the ability of people to deduct state and local taxes but would stop short of fully repealing the estate tax, according to lobbyists and other people familiar with the bill.

John Curtis Wins Utah Special Election for Chaffetz’s Seat

John Curtis Wins Utah Special Election for Chaffetz’s Seat-rollcall: Republican John Curtis has won the special election in Utah’s 3rd district, keeping former Rep. Jason Chaffetz’s seat in GOP hands.

Low-Profile Tax Writer for the Highest-Stress Time

Low-Profile Tax Writer for the Highest-Stress Time-rollcall: Millions of taxpayers, not to mention seemingly all of K Street’s lobbyists, are focused this week on the work of a man precious few outside the Beltway have ever heard of — but who may be the most powerful person at the Capitol.

While Trump’s Away, Congress Legislates?

While Trump’s Away, Congress Legislates?-rollcall: President Donald Trump spent the first four days of his Asia swing focused on countering North Korea and bolstering trade relationships — and some Republican members who are eager to pass a tax bill are just fine with that.

Which Members of Congress Might Not Be Back in 2019?

Which Members of Congress Might Not Be Back in 2019?-rollcall: Political reporters Bridget Bowman and Simone Pathé break down which members of Congress are most vulnerable in the 2018 midterms in the debut of Roll Call's new series, At the Races.

One Year Out: The 10 Most Vulnerable House Incumbents in 2018

One Year Out: The 10 Most Vulnerable House Incumbents in 2018-rollcall: A year out from Election Day, eight of the top 10 most vulnerable House incumbents are Republicans. These are the members least likely to return to Congress in 2019.

Curtis Poised to Succeed Chaffetz in Utah

Curtis Poised to Succeed Chaffetz in Utah-rollcall:

Delays, Caps and Chains, Tax Bill Gimmicks Explained

Delays, Caps and Chains, Tax Bill Gimmicks Explained-rollcall: Tax cuts are not cheap, so when closing so-called loopholes left House Republican tax writers short of their budget target, they dipped into their grab bag of budget and timing tricks.

Using tax legislation to overhaul Obamacare still ‘being discussed,’ Ryan says

Using tax legislation to overhaul Obamacare still ‘being discussed,’ Ryan says-washingtonpost: House Republican tax writers on Sunday prepared to make further changes to the sweeping legislation they released last week, including tweaks that could allow upper-middle-class homeowners to deduct more mortgage interest and make more business owners eligible for a lower tax rate.

Meet the GOP senator quietly pushing an ObamaCare fix

Meet the GOP senator quietly pushing an ObamaCare fix-thehill: When Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) waded into a crowded hallway of reporters outside a closed-door GOP meeting last month and announced a bipartisan ObamaCare deal, Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) was right at his side.

Why the Next Four Days Will Be Crucial for the GOP Tax Bill

Why the Next Four Days Will Be Crucial for the GOP Tax Bill-bloomberg: The House tax-writing committee begins debate Monday on the GOP’s proposed overhaul, kicking off four frantic days for lobbyists and lawmakers to revise a bill that represents President Donald Trump’s final hope for a signature legislative achievement this year.

Rushed Tax-Writing Process Draws Few Complaints — For Now

Rushed Tax-Writing Process Draws Few Complaints — For Now-rollcall: While rank-and-file House Republicans know little about the sprawling bill tax writers have been drafting behind closed doors — a measure they could be asked to vote on in just two weeks — few are ready to complain publicly about the rushed process.

House GOP waffles on Trump’s promised permanent cut in corporate tax rate

House GOP waffles on Trump’s promised permanent cut in corporate tax rate-washingtonpost: House Republican leaders on Thursday are preparing to release their tax plan after making frantic changes Wednesday night to deal with concerns from a number of lawmakers.

How Alabama Senate Race Could Upend Tax Overhaul

How Alabama Senate Race Could Upend Tax Overhaul-rollcall: House Republicans will unveil their tax legislation Thursday, and it’s possible a new senator could vote on the final package if the effort takes longer than expected.

Democrats Face Messaging Hurdles on GOP Tax Plan

Democrats Face Messaging Hurdles on GOP Tax Plan-rollcall: Senate Democrats and their supporters had a unified message when it came to standing against Republican efforts to repeal and replace the 2010 health care law. But when it comes to resisting President Donald Trump and the GOP on tax legislation, it might get more complicated.