In a surprising show of backbone from a usually docile and compliant Republican Senator, Marco Rubio of Florida has announced that he is suddenly refusing to vote for the Republican $1.5 trillion “tax reform” bill unless they include an expansion of tax credits for children.
Leaving lunch, Rubio says he's a NO on tax bill if it doesn't change to meet his concerns about the size of child tax credit. Says he has NOT gotten assurances yet from leaders that they'll change bill
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) December 14, 2017
Rubio and Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) have crafted a plan that would allow “millions more low-income families to take advantage of the bill’s expanded credit” at a cost of $80 billion over 10 years – a quite reasonable amount to spend on our children, considering that is barely one-fifth of what we spend on the military every year.
Rubio has been quietly pounding a drum for child tax credits for several days now, but it’s still quite a surprise to see the usually spineless Senator actually put his actions where his mouth is.
Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) is already a “no” on the tax plan due to the damage it would do to our nation’s deficit. Lee is undecided, while a few other senators are nominal “yeses” but that could change as the negotiations continue to unfold.
While the fate of the American middle class is still looking quite bleak, any sign of trouble for the Republican Senate and any threat to their heinous plans to rob the poor to feed the rich is welcome – no matter how spineless and sanctimonious the messenger might be.
But, to be fair, it is rare to see a Republican take on his colleagues over the health of children. Now it remains to be seen if he’s really serious about this – or if he’s just grandstanding for the cameras.
Winning is good. Boting no is a second-best. Accepting a measly-looking concession and then voting yes is what his critics expect from him.
— Ross Douthat (@DouthatNYT) December 14, 2017
UPDATE:
Rubio is already caving, three hours in.
Here we go: Rubio is getting ready to fold if they give him a crumb. https://t.co/oycD3yUJZx
— Topher Spiro (@TopherSpiro) December 14, 2017
