Instead, the motivating force behind the budget measures is the Republicans' party-defining drive to cut corporate and individual tax rates and rid the tax code of loopholes. The budget measure would provide key procedural help for the tax measure because it sets the stage for follow-on legislation that can't be filibustered by Senate Democrats. Republicans used their Trumpcare bill to sneak in tax cuts for the rich," said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. "Now they're using their tax cut plan — and they public about they're tax cuts for the rich — and they're sneaking in cuts to Medicaid and Medicare. The final version is likely to stick closely to the Senate measure. The Senate Budget Committee began a two-day debate on its version of the legislation on Wednesday afternoon, with a vote expected on Thursday.

Source: ABC News October 04, 2017 18:58 UTC