The Senate fell short as expected Thursday of the 60 votes needed to start debate on a $79 billion tax bill that would deliver financial relief to businesses and low-income families, amid opposition from most Republicans and some on the majority side of the aisle as well.
Though the procedural vote was expected to go down, Democrats hope Republicans’ opposition to expanding the child tax credit will hurt the GOP on the campaign trail and give their own vulnerable members facing tough races a boost. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer of New York also accused Republicans of voting against the bill to avoid giving Democrats a win so close to the election.
“Senate Republicans love to talk about they are the party of family and business, so it’s very odd to see them come out so aggressively against expanding the child tax credit and rewarding businesses with the [research and development] tax credit, but that seems to be what they’re doing,” Schumer said on the floor ahead of the vote. “Senate Republicans can either choose bipartisanship and get this done now, or they can choose partisanship [and] leave families hanging out to dry.”
