We know more details about the final GOP tax bill - thanks to a lobbyist who sent it to a top Democratic senator
- The Republican tax bill is expected to get a vote in the Senate by the end of Friday.
- No text of the final bill or major amendments has been publicly released.
- Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill tweeted a photo of possible GOP amendments that she received from a lobbyist - rather than the Republican leadership.
We now know some of the amendments that could be in the Republican tax bill - but only thanks to a Democratic senator who says she got them from a lobbyist.
Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Missouri Democrat, tweeted a picture of a list of amendments that Republicans could add to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA).
McCaskill said the list did not come from the GOP side of Capitol Hill, but rather from a lobbyist who sent it to her.
"This is so bad. We have just gotten list of amendments to be included in bill NOT from our R colleagues, but from lobbyists downtown," McCaskill tweeted along with an picture of the list. "None of us have seen this list, but lobbyists have it. Need I say more? Disgusting. And we probably will not even be given time to read them."
Democrats have decried the lack fo transparency surrounding the TCJA for the past three days of debate over the bill, calling it absurd that they would barely get to see the final bill before the vote.
Republicans point to previous hearings and working groups on tax reform as evidence that they are not trying to hide anything. But since the one committee hearing on the TCJA, Republicans have added significant changes.
There are a slew of amendments on the list, but nothing more than a short title for the changes. They include everything from "Modify treat of Alaska Native Corporations" to "Strike passenger cruise ship provision."
The Senate is expected to vote on the TCJA later on Friday, the text of the final bill has still has not been released by Republican leaders - nor has text of any amendments. According to Republican leaders, the bill will have at least 50 votes needed to pass.