Senate Republicans have passed a sweeping overhaul of the us tax code, placing Donald Trump on the brink of scoring his first major legislative victory.
The senate approved the $1.5 trillion tax bill, which includes permanent tax breaks for corporations and temporary tax cuts for individuals, by a final vote of 51-48. Once enacted, the legislation will represent the most drastic changes to the US tax code since 1986.
The bill, which was passed along party lines, had every senate republican present voting in its favor and all democrats voting against it. Arizona Senator John Mccain, who is undergoing treatment for brain cancer, was the lone member to be absent for the vote.
Although the bill’s passage was expected, tensions boiled to a surface as the final vote was held, as democrats sharply criticized republicans for a bill independent analysts have projected will disproportionately benefit the wealthy and corporations.
The legislation must go back to the republican-controlled House of Representatives for final approval, but is expected to pass
