— -- The TAKE with Rick Klein
Leave no superlative behind. The tax overhaul is an “extraordinary accomplishment” (Mitch McConnell), an example of “exquisite presidential leadership” (Paul Ryan), and is the “largest tax cut in the history of our country” (President Donald Trump himself, inaccurately).
The GOP is displaying a level of confidence in its choices that might be described as Trumpian.
Republicans feel like the narrative of a lost year was rewritten, with Republicans able to say they remade the tax code, delivered a blow to Obamacare, and secured a long-sought energy development initiative – all in one year-ending bill. As for the president, he is so sure of himself that he’s bragging about special deals cut to secure the vote.
It’s a clarifying moment for Democrats, too. But there’s a little less confidence in running against a tax cut (one they won’t vow to repeal if elected), and a little less overall swagger than they had a week ago, when Alabama elected a Democrat to the Senate.
For all the odd turns of this year, 2017 is ending in a rather familiar fashion. Republicans are touting tax cuts, and Democrats are saying it’s a giveaway to the rich.
For Republicans, at least for now, the familiarity brings a rare measure of comfort.
The RUNDOWN with MaryAlice Parks
If there was ever any doubt that every single vote matters, the state of Virginia proved it once again.
After tallying and re-tallying votes in last month’s special election, control of the state’s entire legislature is up in the air.
Zero votes separate the two candidates in the 94th district in the northern part of the state, as in they are deadlocked, as in an outright tie. 11,608 to 11,608.
Every. Vote. Matters.
If the Democrat prevails (after perhaps some litigation and then maybe even a random drawing to determine the winner), Democrats will have successfully kept Republicans from retaining their majority in the state’s House of Delegates.
Seriously, if a Democrat wins, Democrats and Republicans will be tied 50-50 in terms of seats in the chamber. A power-sharing agreement would have to be worked out. Both parties would likely get chairmanships.
Zooming out further, Virginia, like all states, will decide new congressional boundaries in the next few years. The state already has some very purple U.S. congressional seats.
Some more suburban Republicans in the state are seen as particularly vulnerable in next year’s midterms. The balance of power in Virginia, currently up in the air because of a tie, could have an impact on the balance of power in Washington.
The TIP with John Verhovek
It has now been eight days since the special U.S. Senate election in Alabama, and Roy Moore has still not officially conceded, but it looks like there aren't nearly enough military and provisional ballots for him to overcome the more than 20,000 vote margin that separates him and Democrat Doug Jones.
Moore said he was going to wait for the Secretary of State in Alabama to officially certify the results in the state. John Merrill, the Alabama Secretary of State, released an update Wednesday on the number of military and provisional ballots that have been received by his office.
Merrill says there are 366 military ballots and 4,967 provisional received that still need to be counted and included in the final vote total. That total of 5,342 votes is far from the 20,715 votes that separated Moore and Jones in the unofficial results on election night.
Merrill also maintains that the results in the election will be certified sometime between December 26 and January 3.
Full press release from Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill: http://bit.ly/2kRx5P0
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY
House Speaker Paul Ryan and other members of Congress hold an enrollment ceremony for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act at 11:30 a.m. ET. Ryan will sign the final copy of the bill on parchment paper that will be presented to Trump for his signature. Senate Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer, Dick Durbin, Patty Murray and Debbie Stabenow hold a year-end news conference at 11 a.m. ET. FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe is expected back on Capitol Hill for a closed-door interview with the House Judiciary Committee. McCabe spent roughly eight hours yesterday with the House Intelligence Committee. Axios holds a discussion with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., in Washington, D.C. at 8:00 a.m. ET. QUOTE OF THE DAY
“It will be an incredible Christmas gift for hard-working Americans. I said I wanted to have it done before Christmas. We got it done.” - President Donald Trump on the passage of the tax reform bill Wednesday.
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