Thumbs up McCain? Contrarian octogenarian flips on tax bill

Performing his magical presto-chango act, Arizona’s Senior Senator (ASS) has done an imitation of snapping his gnarled fingers and now says he will support the senate tax bill and repeal of the Obamacare individual mandate.

Most Americans are so fed up with his puerile “look at me throw up a roadblock” shenanigans that he is now dismissed as an antagonistic impediment to progress — especially if President Trump conceptualized it. Only the leftwing media hang on his every word and nuance.

On Thursday, he released this statement in support of the Senate tax reform bill. In addition to the link, we are also copying it here since when he leaves the senate, his links will disappear.

“After careful thought and consideration, I have decided to support the Senate tax reform bill. I believe this legislation, though far from perfect, would enhance American competitiveness, boost the economy, and provide long overdue tax relief for middle class families.

For too long, hardworking people in Arizona and around the country have not seen a raise in their paychecks. This bill would directly benefit all Americans, allowing them to keep a higher percentage of what they earn. According to the non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation, every income bracket would see tax relief under this bill. The child tax credit would be doubled to $2,000 per child and the tax code would be substantially simplified. 

By lowering our high corporate tax rate to 20 percent, the bill would make our markets far more attractive for investment. It would also encourage American companies to repatriate assets now held overseas. Small businesses, which are vitally important to the dynamism of our economy, would also receive essential tax relief. Combined, these commonsense steps would promote economic growth and stimulate job creation here at home.  

For months, I have called for a return to regular order, and I am pleased that this important bill was considered through the normal legislative processes, with several hearings and a thorough mark-up in the Senate Finance Committee during which more than 350 amendments were filed and 69 received a vote.  

I have also argued that health care reform, which is important both to the well-being of our citizens and to the vitality of our economy, should proceed by regular order. This bill does not change that. As a matter of principle, I’ve always supported individual liberty and believe the federal government should not penalize Americans who cannot afford to purchase expensive health insurance. By repealing the individual mandate, this bill would eliminate an onerous tax that especially harms those from low-income brackets. In my home state of Arizona, 80 percent of people who currently pay the individual mandate penalty earn less than $50,000 per year.

Finally, I take seriously the concerns some of my Senate colleagues have raised about the impact of this bill on the deficit. However, it’s clear this bill’s net effect on our economy would be positive. This is not a perfect bill, but it is one that would deliver much-needed reform to our tax code, grow the economy, and help Americans keep more of their hard-earned money.” 

In this statement written by his strategists, ASS liberally refers to the economy. This video shows presidential candidate McCain speaking extemporaneously on the topic of the economy: