Trump secures major victory as Senate Republicans pass $1.5 trillion tax cut bill despite Democrats warning they'll 'rue this day' and protesters screaming 'don't kill us' - paving the way for a final House vote today after earlier hiccup
-The Senate passed a $1.5 trillion tax cut early in the early hours of Wednesday
-Vote was along strict party lines. Only GOP Sen. John McCain was absent
-The House earlier passed the tax cut by a vote of 227-203 but two provisions fell foul of parliamentary test meaning they have to vote again on Wednesday
-President Donald Trump fired off a pair of tweets in the morning
-Mike Pence described it as a 'historic win for the American people'
By Geoff Earle, Deputy U.s. Political Editor For Dailymail.com and David Martosko, u.s. Political Editor For Dailymail.com
The Senate passed the GOP’s $1.5 trillion tax cut early Wednesday morning, leaving just one technical hurdle and President Trump’s signature as the final steps before the president’s top legislative priority becomes reality.
There was little last-minute drama in the Senate where the final tally was 51-48 – hardly different from the original version that cleared the Senate earlier this month.
Not a single Democrat voted for it, just as none in the House voted for a similar bill earlier on Tuesday.
Moments after the measure passed, Trump was quick to voice his approval and said if the House succeeds in a final re-vote Wednesday morning, there will be a White House news conference at 1:00 p.m.
'The United States Senate just passed the biggest in history Tax Cut and Reform Bill,' he tweeted just after 1:00 in the morning. 'Terrible Individual Mandate (ObamaCare)Repealed. Goes to the House tomorrow morning for final vote.'
With a final House vote not expected until around lunchtime, the White House announced that Trump would hold a 'bill passage event.' The president will have to sign the bill later.
House Speaker Paul Ryan tweeted: 'Great news. The Senate just passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. After years of work, we are going to enact the most sweeping, pro-growth overhaul of our tax code in a generation.'
A wave of protesters provided one of the biggest bursts of emotion. One small group yelled out ‘Kill the bill, don't kill us!’ as the final vote was being taken.
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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5197219/Republicans-force-tax-cuts-Senate.html