Grassley Confident Senate Will Pass Tax Reform

A senior Republican and former chairman of the Senate Finance Committee says he’s more confident the Senate will pass a tax reform bill than he was when it failed to pass a repeal of Obamacare.  Iowa Republican Chuck Grassley admits he was wrong when it came to his Obamacare prediction.  But he now insists things could be different with tax reform that could be a major economic driver for producers.

“And I think in Conference Committee, it’s going to work its will just like every Conference Committee does, but if we get a bill through the Senate in the first place it will go through the Senate in the second place.”

And Grassley does not think repeal of the Obamacare tax penalty for not carrying health insurance will be a stumbling block in the tax bill.

“I think there’s going to be a plan to pass the Alexander-Murray bill in conjunction or soon after we pass this bill.  And doing that I think that’ll get us the votes that we need.”

Grassley predicts two or three-Democrats may join Republicans in voting for the Senate tax bill, but only after the GOP secures 50 Republican votes ensuring the Democrats’ votes are not deciding.  American Farm Bureau and other major farm groups says they are encouraged, but are waiting to see the final Senate and House bills that double the estate tax exemption, reduce the small business and corporate rates, and expand business expensing and cash accounting.

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