Susan Collins proposed 4 amendments.

[Egnever]

Last edited Fri Dec 1, 2017, 06:21 AM - Edit history (1)

1 ) exempt up to 10k in property tax , noting that the tax exemption for state and local taxes has been in the tax code since 1913

2) strike a provision that would lessen the retirement benefits for teachers firefighters charity workers and other government workers.

3) improve child and dependent care tax credit by making it refundable. So that people who pay low or no federal taxes would still be eligible to receive a credit. Fund this by closing the carried interest loophole.

4) reduce the maximum cost for medical expenses from 10% that it is at currently to 7.5 %


Maybe she is a yes on this bill but without these I don't think so. Chances that McConnell goes for this seem about zero to me. Making her a hard get.

Edit

Actually this whole sequence on cspan is pretty good


https://www.c-span.org/video/?437830-10/senators-collins-udall-booker-roberts-hirono-peters-tax-bill

[stopbush]

1. The usual trick is to include these amendments in the Senate version

to get it passed in the Senate. The amendments are then eliminated in the conference bill. The Senator then votes yes for the conference bill, saying “well, I tried.”

[Egnever]

4. Good point

Think they are scrambling now anyway.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029907418

[no_hypocrisy]

8. Bait-and-Switch

Same with the ACA/Obamacare supplemental stipend. McConnell will promise to put it up for a vote, but he doesn't control that it will be passed. Tax reform gets its 50th vote and Collins goes home to Maine, claiming "I tried . . . . . "

[dalton99a]

11. +1

[Skittles]

2. she needs to do the honorable thing and JUST VOTE NO

[BigmanPigman]

3. The jury is still out on her.

McCain I do not trust him and never will. He is a grand stander and a GOP hypocrite (yes, I know that is redundant). I still will call them AGAIN before I see my doctor tomorrow. I am planning ahead and told another one of my doctors yesterday that I can't afford the $100 out of pocket fee (with the ACA) test that he would like me to take. They really are clueless...another one of my doctors couldn't understand that someone can't afford preventative healthcare even with insurance. It must be nice to live in a world of unlimited wealth. We teachers and artists wouldn't know about that.

[ThoughtCriminal]

5. Those amendments do not not even begin to make this train wreck

even noticeably less catastrophic.

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. And I told her office as much, and that I will not vote for her

if she supports any of the Trump agenda.

(Not that I have ever voted for her. Did vote for Olympia once or twice ages and ages ago, but not Susan.)

[Egnever]

7. Oh I would say putting the tax write off up to 10k in interest per year is pretty hefty

And highly unlikely to get into the bill because it wrecks it even further as far as the deficit it would create without adjustments elsewhere.

Yet she argued pretty forcefully for it on the floor. Saying it has been there since the Federal income tax was created.

I just don't see a way for the republicans to accommodate any of her amendments.

Without them I think she is a hard get. I hope.

It seems to be spinning out of control due to the trillion dollar deficit it creates. I am hoping they are going to fail this. I think they are.

[disalitervisum]

9. How about striking the provisions that allow credit accounts for fetuses

eliminate the deductions for teachers who spend their own money for school supplies, and let private aircraft owners take larger deductions?

It's not a tax bill, it's a social engineering bill.

[Cicada]

10. This fails to protect Obamacare purchasers too affluent for subsidies

Dropping the individual mandate is expected to hike premiums 10%. Collins amendment will protect those getting subsidies, those earning less than 4 Times the federal poverty level. That’s about $48000 if single, 98000 if a family of 4. But those with higher incomes will get stuck with paying the full 10% hike (on top of any other hike expected under current laws).

Plus govt costs for covering the uninsured will rise.

This will hurt At least a million voters.