Following the 51-49 vote, talks will begin, likely next week, between the Senate and the House of Representatives, which has already approved its own tax bill. A tax overhaul is seen by Republicans as crucial to their prospects in the November 2018 mid-term election campaigns when they will have to defend their majorities in Congress. "The Republicans have managed to take a bad bill and make it worse," said Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer. No Democrats voted for the bill, but they lacked the votes to block it because Republicans hold a 52-48 Senate majority. Republican Senator Bill Cassidy praised the bill and said, "Working families and middle-income families across the nation will be better off.

Source: bd News24 December 02, 2017 07:18 UTC