Senate Vote Boosts Obama’s Tax-Cut Bid

That pronounced blast of disapproval from the left-leaning ranks in the House of Representatives last week may not be enough to blow President Barack Obama’s tax-cut proposal down, as the Senate gave it a strong vote of confidence Monday.

Los Angeles Times:

The Senate could send the package to the House by midweek and then turn to remaining legislative priorities, including a nuclear arms reduction treaty with Russia, a repeal of the ban on openly gay military personnel and a youth immigration bill.

Still, House Democrats have yet to relent in their opposition to the tax-cut deal between the White House and GOP leaders, and they are expected to demand changes to the bill’s estate tax provision, which liberal lawmakers say is skewed to the wealthy.

Yet, as the Senate voted 83-15 to clear a key procedural hurdle, it became increasingly obvious that altering the package in either chamber could delay final votes and jeopardize other top goals before the Democratic-controlled Congress comes to a close at the end of the year.

Read more