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December 01, 2017 at 01:10 AM
Democrats in the Senate believe that the Republicans have added a life insurance amendment to the Senate’s version of H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act bill.
Members of the Senate have been debating the bill on the floor all day and appear to be nearing a vote on final passage. Sen. Ron Wyden, R-Ore., complained about Senate Republican leaders’ failure to provide a copy of the bill text, or a complete description of the bill.
Around 3 p.m., Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., tweeted a copy of a list of “Amendment’s Included in Manager’s Amendment.” McCaskill said she obtained the list from a lobbyist who believes the amendments will be included in the bill.
(Related: Scott Kicks Off Battle Over Senate Tax Bill Life Provisions)
The list shows one amendment, proposed by Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., with the title “Life insurance provisions.” The list does not give any details about the nature of the amendments listed.
Around 4:30 p.m., Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., held up the list on the Senate floor and said that the list was the first indication had received of what might really be in the bill.
McCaskill had received more information about the bill from a lobbyist than Senate Democrats have received from Senate Republican leaders, Wyden said.
About half an hour later, Wyden held up a pile of papers that was about 6 inches thick. He said that he believes that pile of papers was the text of the bill.
“It sure looks like a lobbyists’ wish list,” Wyden said.
Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., who was also on the bill, said she might support some of the amendments on the manager’s amendment list, if she knew more about them.
