Augusta, MAINE – In case you missed it, conservative House Republicans are throwing cold water on a deal that U.S. Senator Susan Collins struck with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in exchange for her vote on tax reform.
Senator Collins received promises from President Donald Trump and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell that two pieces of legislation she wanted – the Alexander Murray stabilization bill and the Nelson-Collins reinsurance plan – would pass and be signed into law in exchange for her support of the bill. [Side note: Several independent, nonpartisan analyses have refuted Senator Collins’ argument that these two bills will mitigate the impact of the individual mandate repeal.]
However, conservatives are panning the agreement in a report out last night by The Daily Beast, throwing into jeopardy its chances for passing the House of Representatives:
“We still have the same issues. Nothing has changed in the last two months just because we’re fulfilling our promise on delivering on tax reform,” Rep. Mark Walker (R-N.C.), the chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee, told The Daily Beast. “I find it problematic to be promising something that the House has shunned from very early on.”
“I think this is exactly what the American people are sick of: learning about trading votes to modify the healthcare system and one fifth of the economy in exchange for a tax vote,” Rep. Dave Brat (R-VA), a member of the hardline House Freedom Caucus, told The Daily Beast. “So it seems like it would be wiser for Republicans to actually follow what is in the Republican platform and not what is in the Democratic platform.”
“McConnell is asking for us to vote for these unpalatable things to do tax reform,” a conservative House GOP aide told The Daily Beast. “We have someone who’s taking a hostage, we have to negotiate with them, and, oh, they happen to be from the same party.”
To read complete report by The Daily Beast, click HERE.