Republicans touted their tax reform plans at a perfunctory joint House-Senate conference committee meeting Wednesday afternoon, as Democrats thundered against the bill and decried the uselessness of the event.
“This is our once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver historic tax reform that we — and the American people — can all be proud of,” said committee Chairman Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas.
The meeting took place just after Republicans announced they had reached a deal between the two chambers to resolve the differences between the two versions of the tax bills.
The details of the deal, though, were not available at the meeting, prompting added criticism from Democrats.
“What’s happening today is a sham,” said Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., arguing the meeting was called simply to allow Republicans to claim they followed regular order.
“This is the ultimate betrayal of the middle class,” he shouted.
The meeting took place in the basement of the Capitol, in a room not usually used for official legislative business.
Democrats tried to slow the GOP bill’s advancement via amendment. Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts, for instance, tried to offer an amendment to postpone the conference hearing until newly elected Democrat Doug Jones of Alabama could be seated in the Senate.
Brady denied those motions, prompting Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, to accuse him of following “Putin rules.”
“There are few rules governing this committee other than that we have one public hearing,” Brady explained at one point.
He told Democrats they would be informed of the details of the final compromise along with the public, later this week.
Republicans aim to finalize legislative text this weekend and have the Senate and House vote on final passage of the conference bill next week.
Wednesday’s meeting ended after lawmakers heard a description of the bills that passed the Senate and the House from Thomas Barthold, chief of staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation, the body that provides expert analysis of tax legislation to Congress.
