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Education secretary's brother is alumnus of Hillsdale College, to which family gives money and which Republicans wanted to help because it refuses federal funds The Senate voted to strike an amendment from the Republican tax bill that would have benefited a small Christian college in southern Michigan with ties to education secretary Betsy DeVos. In a surprise 52-48 vote, four Republicans supported an amendment offered by Democrat Jeff Merkley to remove the exception from the legislation.
Vice President Mike Pence announcing the final vote, which was mostly along party lines, 51 to 49, with only one Republican voting against the bill, Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee. And while Republicans have touted it as a victory for the middle class, several independent analyses found it's skewed toward corporations and the wealthy, according to the Tax Policy Center.
Late Friday night, Republicans released a 479-page amendment to their tax bill. Republican leaders are planning to vote on the bill on Friday or early Saturday morning, and it is expected to pass.