Chuck Schumer wants GOP to delay tax vote until Doug Jones is seated

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Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) speaks at a press confernce on urging the GOP To Slow Down Republican Tax Bill In Senate on December 13, 2017 in Washington, DC.

Republican leaders want to vote on final tax legislation by next week, and they expect to have the votes to pass it in the House and Senate once a final deal between the chambers is reached. For months, the GOP has set the end of the year as its target for approving a tax proposal.

Waiting would potentially shatter GOP hopes of approving tax cuts, a key policy goal that lawmakers hope to promote ahead of next year’s midterm elections.

The Alabama secretary of State’s office says it will not certify Tuesday’s election results until Dec. 27 at the earliest. That means Jones likely will not get sworn in until next month.

Currently, Republicans hold 52 seats in the Senate. Under special budget rules being used to push through tax legislation, they can lose two party votes and still pass it with a simple majority, including a tiebreaking vote cast by Vice President Mike Pence.

If Jones took his Senate seat before the bill was passed, two Republican votes of opposition could sink the tax plan. The former federal prosecutor has signaled that he would not back the GOP plan, despite supporting corporate tax cuts.

Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., opposed the Senate’s version of the plan due to the estimated $1 trillion or more it would add to federal budget deficits over a decade. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, has not committed to backing the final bill, either.

Schumer on Wednesday highlighted that Republicans called for Senate Democrats to wait to carry out some Affordable Care Act votes until after special election winner Scott Brown of Massachusetts was seated. Schumer said then-Majority Leader Harry Reid pledged to do so.