Trump touts tax bill ahead of Senate vote

President Trump on Wednesday rallied the public on tax cuts ahead of a key Senate vote.

Standing in front of American flags and Christmas trees in Missouri, Trump told the crowd he came to the state “to help push our plan for historic tax cuts right across the finish line.”

“The eyes of the world now turn to the United States Senate,” he said.

The Senate is expected to vote later on Wednesday on a motion to begin debate on tax legislation. The motion is expected to pass, but some GOP senators are still pushing for changes to the underlying bill.

Trump met with the Senate Republican conference on Tuesday, which helped to boost momentum for the bill. The president said he had an “incredible session”

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Senate Republicans expect to pass their bill by the end of the week. Republicans hope to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate bills and send a tax package to Trump by Christmas.

“This week’s vote can be the beginning of the next great chapter for the American worker,” Trump said.

Trump also took the chance to target Missouri’s Democratic Senator, Claire McCaskill, telling the crowd that she “is doing you a tremendous disservice.”

McCaskill voted against the tax bill in the Senate Finance Committee, along with the panel’s other Democrats.

The president on multiple occasions has touted a leading Republican challenger to McCaskill, Josh Hawley. He said he would campaign with Hawley in the future.

“He’s going to be a great senator,” Trump said.

Trump won Missouri by 18 points in the 2016 presidential election and McCaskill’s seat is thought to be one of the most vulnerable in the 2018 midterm elections.

Trump argued that tax cuts would help create prosperity in the country. He also touted recent gains in the stock market and in economic growth.

“A vote to cut taxes is a vote to put America first again,” he said.

The Senate tax bill would cut the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 20 percent on a permanent basis, while also temporarily lowering tax rates for individuals.

Trump argued that the bill is focused on the middle class, highlighting aspects such as its near doubling of the standard deduction and increase in the child tax credit.

“The beating heart of our plan is a tax cut for working families,” he said.

The president also claimed that the bill would cost him “a fortune.” It’s unclear exactly how Trump would fare under the bill because he hasn’t released his tax returns. However, he could benefit from some provisions, such as the repeal of the alternative minimum tax.

Trump previously visited Missouri in August to sell his tax plans. He has also given tax speeches in North Dakota, Indiana and Pennsylvania — all states with Democratic senators seeking reelection next year in states Trump carried.

While some Democrats have not ruled out voting for the bill, they are unlikely to do so. Democrats argue that the bill largely benefits the wealthy and would increase the debt.