Senate Republicans were confident they had the support needed Friday to pass their tax overhaul as last-minute changes brought more GOP lawmakers on board.
“We have the votes,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters after GOP senators emerged from a meeting.
Sens. Steve Daines, R-Mont., and Ron Johnson, R-Wis., earlier Friday said they would back the bill after securing further tax relief for pass-through businesses. Then, holdout Sens. James Lankford, R-Okla., and Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., committed to supporting the plan, leaving Republican leaders confident that they had the support.
Following the Republican meeting, holdout Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, told reporters that limited state and local property tax deductions — a concession she sought — were added to the bill. She did not commit to backing the legislation.
Even without Collins’ vote, the GOP appeared to have the 50 votes needed to approve the bill.
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