There’s been some puzzlement concerning the about-face of Senator Bob Corker, who had declared he could not vote for a tax change bill which added to the national deficit – and then a few days later executed an about-face and announced his support for the bill without achieving any modifications which would remove the additions to the deficit. But an article in the International Business Times lays bare a possible explanation:
Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, the majority whip, on Sunday said a tax provision, which could personally enrich key Republican lawmakers, was added to the final tax bill as part of an effort to “cobble together the votes we needed to get this bill passed.” Cornyn was pressed about the provision onABC’s “This Week,” after an International Business Times investigationshowed that Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee suddenly switched his vote to “yes” after GOP leaders added the provision, which could boost Corker’s real estate income. A top Democratic senator, Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, responded to Cornyn’s explanation by saying the language put into the bill also “would be a windfall to Donald Trump.”
As IBT first reported, the provision potentially enriching Corker, Trump and a handful of other top Republican lawmakers, was not part of the House- or Senate-passed bill, but was added by GOP lawmakers to the final bill, which was publicly released on Friday afternoon. Corker, who is not seeking re-election and is considered a crucial swing vote due to his criticism of President Trump, suddenly said he would support the final bill. He initially voted against the original bill in the Senate, which did not have the provision. Corker subsequently asserted to IBT that he did not know about the provision being added to the final bill, and he also declared he has not even read the tax bill he announced he is voting for.
Let’s step back. Waaaay back. For the conservative reader who has been sucking down the directives from President Trump about the mainstream media, sit down and think about this. Think about the possible corruption going on here. Think about the whole swamp metaphor. This is what the mainstream media does – it keeps tabs on the swamp, it keeps an eye on the behaviors of the legislative members, regardless of ideology, it keeps you up to date on what’s happening.
If you’re willing to keep up with the mainstream media.
This is what President Trump doesn’t want you to see – members of his own Party behaving badly. Do you approve of being mislead in this manner? If so, please, hit that mail button up on the right and tell me why you approve. (Don’t go off on a tangent, that just irritates me.) I am eternally mystified that any adult would buy into the fake news meme.
And thank you for the explanation.
