Senate Dems quote Reagan in push against GOP tax bill

Senate Democrats on Thursday tweeted out a quote from former President Reagan about the importance of bipartisan debate, as Republicans seek to push through a tax bill this week.

“A great national debate now begins. It should not be a partisan debate, for the authors of tax reform come from both parties, and all of us want greater fairness, incentives, and simplicity in taxation,” Reagan said in May 1985, the last time Congress took up significant tax reform measures.

The GOP once believed in bipartisanship. #TBT #GOPTaxScam pic.twitter.com/Z4nYvTCgPk

— Senate Democrats (@SenateDems) November 30, 2017

Every GOP senator voted to start debate on the tax reform legislation Wednesday evening. A final vote on the plan is expected late Thursday night or Friday.

{mosads}Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who helped killed GOP efforts at repealing and replacing ObamaCare, said Thursday he will support the tax bill, providing a boost to Republican efforts to pass the legislation in the Senate.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) needs 50 of his 52 GOP senators to support the legislation.

Several GOP budget hawks remain concerned about the impact on the deficit, which the Congressional Budget Office estimated would increase by $1.4 trillion over the next decade.

Democrats oppose the tax plan, arguing it benefits wealthy Americans more than the middle class and complaining that the party has been shut out of the legislative process.