Republicans passed tax reform yesterday in the House by a Vote of 227-203 and in the Senate by a vote of 51-48, clearing the way for President Trump to sign the Bill into law.  The President is expected to sign it as early as the end of this week.

Republicans billed the passage as a promise kept to the American people (the President, along with Capitol Hill Republicans have promised to deliver a tax cut to the American people by Christmas).  The bill marks the first major legislative achievement for the Trump White House this year.  Traditionally, the first year is seen as the most legislatively productive time for a new administration.

The controversy surrounding the bill stems from the fact that numerous studies have shown most of the benefits of the tax legislation will accrue to the wealthiest households in America.  Those same studies have also shown that many Americans will pay more in taxes under the proposal, and that the amount they will pay will actually increase over time.

Democrats have called the proposal a giveaway to the wealthiest Americans, as well as corporations, and have promised to make the bill a campaign issue during the midterm elections next year.  “The bill provides crumbs and tax hikes for middle-class families in this country, and a Christmas gift to major corporations…” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.  “How can Republicans defend this?  The only people who want it are their very wealthy paymasters.”

Republicans were jubilant after passage however and seemed to welcome arguing the issue before the American people.  “This is a day I have looked forward to for a very long time,” Speaker Paul Ryan said after the final vote count was announced.  “From a Republican point of view, this is as good as it gets…If we can’t sell this to the American people we ought to go into another line of work,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said after the bill passed in his body.

Because of a procedural glitch, the House will have to vote one final time on the bill because several provisions in the House-passed version violate Senate rules.  That vote is expected to pass this morning, and after it does, the President is expected to hold a news conference on the bill at 1PM EST.