House approves motion to go to tax conference — with drama
By Naomi Jagoda - 12/04/17 07:15 PM EST The House in a 222-192 vote on Monday voted to approve a motion to go to conference with the Senate on tax legislation — though the vote was filled with drama after several House Freedom Caucus members protested leadership's plans for a two-week stopgap spending bill.
At one point, the vote was tied as members of the conservative Freedom Caucus huddled with leadership over the continuing resolution (CR). The measure passed when caucus members got assurances that leadership would consider a CR to fund the government through Dec. 30 instead of Dec. 22.
In the end, seven Republicans voted against the tax motion; Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) was the only Freedom Caucus member to do so. The other Republicans who voted against the motion also voted against the House's tax bill in November.
The Freedom Caucus's holdup on the tax motion to gain leverage on the CR did not go over well with other Republicans.
"Trying to take out going to conference on tax reform, I don't think that's the best route," said Rep. Mark Walker (R-N.C.), chairman of another conservative group, the Republican Study Committee.
But Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) said that a spending bill to Dec. 30 works better than a two-week bill because it would give lawmakers more time to negotiate a deal over spending caps.
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http://thehill.com/policy/finance/363227-house-approves-going-to-a-conference-committee-with-senate-on-tax-cut-bill
