Senate Republicans are warming to President Trump's proposal to claw back spending after dismissing an earlier plan with widespread skepticism, The Hill reported. Trump is requesting Congress rescind $15.4 billion in spending from previously approved funds, the largest single such request from a White House and the first in nearly two decades. "My understanding of the rescission package is that it does not breach the bipartisan agreement we reached in the caps deal. If the House is able to pass the rescissions package, we'll take a look at it," said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). The rescissions plan, according to the White House, would largely target unobligated funds, including money left over in now defunct accounts. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said that separating a rescissions request from the omnibus "helps quite a bit." Congress has 45 days to approve the request in a measure that is not subject to a Senate filibuster. That would allow Republicans to pass a rescissions package without help from Democrats, as long as they can keep most of their fragile 51-seat caucus united. With Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) absent from Washington, Republicans are capped at 50 votes. That would mean they couldn't afford to lose any GOP senator if they weren't able to pull any Democrats on board. There's no sign Democrats will come on board, though lawmakers up for reelection in red and purple states are likely to come under pressure from the White House.
The exaction for failure to purchase health insurance under the ACA is a tax for constitutional purposes but not a tax under the Bankruptcy Code, New Orleans judge rules.
