Republicans Block Bill That Would Have Cut Taxes For Families

WASHINGTON ― A bipartisan bill expanding the child tax credit, as well as business deductions sought by corporate America, failed to advance in the Senate on Thursday after overwhelming opposition from Republicans who feared giving Democrats a major win ahead of the November elections.

The 48-44 vote came amid debate about which party is more “pro-family” and whether the government should penalize people without children, or “childless cat ladies,” as Ohio Sen. JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential candidate, suggested in recently resurfaced comments that have drawn bipartisan criticism.

“If these folks are so pro-family, why aren’t they supporting paid family and medical leave? If they believe in families, why are they not supporting the child tax credit?” Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) told HuffPost when asked about GOP opposition to the bill.

The legislation would have given low-income parents larger tax refunds, especially in households with multiple children. Tax analysts said a tax filer who has two children and earned $9,000 last year would receive a child tax credit refund worth $975 under current law, but $1,950 under the proposal.

The bill’s authors, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.), said it would “help 16 million kids from low-income families and lift 500,000 out of poverty,” in part by allowing parents to claim the full tax credit for each of their kids, something they can’t do now.

Republicans complained that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) only brought the measure up for a vote six months after it was approved by the House (by a 357-70 vote) to help bolster the campaigns of vulnerable Democratic incumbents facing tough reelection fights in November.

Some GOP senators also