WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats tee up vote on child tax credit in election-year pitch to families
In a bold move ahead of the August recess, Senate Democrats, led by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, are pushing for a vote on a bipartisan tax cut package aimed at expanding the child tax credit for millions of families and restoring certain business tax breaks. This move is seen as a direct challenge to Republicans, who are expected to oppose the measure, highlighting their stance that they would have more leverage to enact their preferred tax changes if they gain control of the White House and Congress in the upcoming elections.
The tax cut package, which includes provisions set to expire after 2025, has already passed the House with a significant majority but has faced obstacles in the Senate. The procedural vote required to advance the measure is a high bar, needing support from 60 senators, a threshold that seems unlikely to be met.
The bill, crafted through negotiations between Rep. Jason Smith and Sen. Ron Wyden, aims to restore immediate deductions for businesses and enhance the child tax credit to benefit more low-income families. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, these changes could lift up to 500,000 people out of poverty and benefit the families of approximately 16 million children.
Despite the bill's apparent lack of support to overcome procedural hurdles, Schumer has decided to bring it to a vote during the election season, using it as a platform to counter claims by Republican candidate JD Vance that Democrats are "anti-family." Schumer has labeled Vance's assertions as "plain old nonsense," highlighting the Democratic efforts to expand the child tax credit during the pandemic.
Republicans, including Sen. John Cornyn, view the upcoming vote as a strategic maneuver by Democrats to gain campaign points rather than a genuine legislative push. Cornyn suggests that the bill should have undergone more rigorous committee scrutiny before reaching the Senate floor.
As the Senate prepares for this vote, it underscores the political maneuvering ahead of the November elections, with both parties vying to highlight issues they believe resonate with voters. The outcome of this vote could serve as a barometer of public sentiment on tax relief and family support measures, crucial factors in the electoral landscape.