Most Republicans voted against a bill to expand the child tax credit and restore some business tax benefits on Thursday.
Senate Republicans blocked a $79 billion bill to expand the child tax credit and restore some tax breaks for businesses on Thursday.
The bill passed with overwhelming support in the House by a 357-70 vote in January. But on Thursday, most Republicans opposed the measure in a 48-44 procedural vote and the bill fell shy of the 60 votes needed for it to pass.
This measure, however, was expected to fail in the Senate after GOP lawmakers in the upper chamber brought up concerns with the bill, and Republicans have accused Democrats of using the vote as a talking point on the campaign trail ahead of the election in November.
« The question is, will Senate Republicans join us to give Americans a tax break or will they stand in the way? » Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, said before the vote.
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, said on the Senate floor, « I’m not so certain the American people are impressed by message votes.
