(Bloomberg) — The Senate is preparing to vote on a lengthy series of amendments to the Democrats’ $437 billion climate, health and tax package leading up to expected passage of the legislation sometime this weekend.
In one of the quirks of Senate rules being employed by Democrats to pass the bill with a simple majority, Republicans have the chance to offer scores of amendments.
Most are designed to force Democratic senators to take politically fraught positions on contentious issues such as immigration and taxes.
In the 50-50 Senate, Republicans can force a change in the legislation with help from just one member of the Democratic caucus.
Minimum Tax Includes Special Treatment for Telecom (10:48 p.m.)
The bill text, released Saturday evening, contains a special carveout in the corporate minimum tax for telecommunications companies that wasn’t included in previous versions of the bill.
The change makes the 15% minimum tax on financial profits less severe for telecom businesses, because they will be able to claim additional deductions when calculating the tax.
The legislation also allows companies in all industries to claim tax breaks related to depreciating their equipment and facilities, a previously announced revision that Senator Kyrsten Sinema requested in order to win her support.
Democrats Dare GOP to Strip Out Insulin Cap (10:06 p.m.)
Democrats included a $35 cap on insulin in the bill and are daring the GOP to strip it out.
The top Senate rules official has said the provision, authored by Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock, is not eligible for the budget bill under Senate rules.
But they kept it in the legislation.
Republicans can object to the provision and then Democrats will need 60 votes to waive the objection. Pennsylvania Republican Senator Pat Toomey said the GOP will likely object.
Manchin Ready to Reject GOP Amendments (7:00 p.m.)
During the marathon of amendment votes, it would only take one Democrat siding with all Republicans to change the bill.
Senator John Thune said the GOP will try to add amendments intended to rile progressive Democrats and make the bill harder to pass the House.
West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, a moderate Democrat who has sometimes angered his party’s left wing, indicated he wouldn’t go.
“I’m protecting the integrity of the bill” he said.
Thune said, “If he sticks to that he is going to make some votes that he regrets.”
Automakers Lost Fight Over Domestic Content (6:00 p.m.)
US automakers lost their fight to remove domestic content requirements from the vehicle tax proposal.
Michigan Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow told reporters that the changes they had sought were not made.
Companies will have to comply with tough new battery and critical minerals sourcing requirements that could render the credits useless for years for many manufactures, the senators have warned.
Manchin insisted on the domestic supply chain requirements.
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