Earlier this week, House Republicans passed their version of the tax bill despite widespread opposition from both Democrats and their constituents.
7 Key Republican players could block the tax bill from passing the Senate. Note who they are and if they represent your state, get them on the phone!
Politico has effectively broken down the 7 Senators into categories that define their political leanings on the matter.
First of all, there are “The deficit hawks.” These are the Republicans who have taken a stand against raising the national debt ceiling. If the Senate bill adds too much to the national debt, these votes are going to be a no. And these votes could be critical, as the Republican tax plan is expected to send the national debt soaring over the course of the next decade due to corporate tax cuts.
Bob Corker (R-Tenn.)
We may luck out with Bob Corker, who has voiced his opposition to Trump in recent months. He is not seeking reelection and will perhaps be more likely to grab ahold of his morals and take a stand. Corker has said that he will oppose any tax bill that adds “one penny to the deficit,” according to Politico.
John McCain (R-Ariz.)
John McCain is going to lose any credibility as a Republican willing to stand up to the president and his rather extremist colleagues if he votes in favor of the Senate bill. Surely, he knows this. McCain has voted against tax cuts in the past.
Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.)
Flake is a fiscal hawk through and through. “I remain concerned over how the current tax reform proposals will grow the already staggering national debt by opting for short-term fixes while ignoring long-term problems for taxpayers and the economy,” he said in a statement.
The next batch is dubbed “The perennial leadership headaches.”
Ron Johnson (R-Wis.)
Johnson has argued that the House and Senate bills disproportionately benefit large corporations and the wealthy. Well, duh. Hopefully, he will not vote in favor of the bill.
Rand Paul (R-Ky.)
Paul’s ideas are even more extreme than what the bill presents. He wants to cut Obamacare and lower the corporate tax rate to 15 percent. Let’s use his irrational approach in our favor.
And the final (and perhaps most likely to vote no) batch is: “The moderates.”
Susan Collins (R-Maine)
We all know that Susan Collins took a stand against the repeal of Obamacare. The Senate bill’s sneaky repeal of the ACA’s individual mandate might cost Republicans her vote.
Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska)
Murkowski was a key player in halting the recent Obamacare repeal attempts. She is the rare Republican who will not throw her constituents’ interests aside for the sake of a shallow political victory. That is if her constituents voice their opposition.
If you are represented by any of these Senators, call them! Text them! This tax bill, on top of the House bill, has the potential to devastate the American economy. It disproportionately impacts low and middle-income Americans.
Take a stand and voice your opposition.
