Republicans have pulled an end-of-Congress tax bill from consideration, as its chances to pass the House of Representatives looked uncertain.
The bill would have made substantial technical corrections to the major tax reform law passed last year, as well as made changes to the tax treatment of retirement savings. To help spur support, it also reauthorized a number of extensions of tax credits for parochial interests ranging from clean energy and biofuels, to horse racing, to NASCAR.
But lackluster attendance from departing members and committee selections for the next Congress, taking place this week, complicated vote counting, causing leadership to hold off consideration of the bill.
The delayed vote weakens the hand of House Republicans who hoped to negotiate the fixes and extensions with Senate Democrats, who remain skeptical and irritated over last year’s tax law. Republicans have a rapidly closing window before handing over the majority in the House to Democrats in January, meaning they may simply seek to add some of the tax provisions in the delayed bill to must-pass government funding legislation next week.
