PASSED – AT 9:26 A.M. ET:   The United States Senate passed its version of the tax bill last night.  From CNN: 

(CNN) The Senate passed its tax reform bill in the early hour of Saturday morning, following a day full of Republican leaders making changes to bring enough members on board and a long night full of heated rhetoric on both sides of the aisle.

The vote was 51-49, mostly along party lines. Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee was the only Republican to vote against the bill, citing concerns about growing the deficit.

Congressional negotiators continued to make changes to the bill -- including handwriting alterations on to the document -- up until just hours before the final vote, with Democrats sharply criticizing Republicans for not giving members enough time to read the sweeping legislation that would overhaul the US tax system.

The House of Representatives approved its own tax reform plan last month, and the two chambers are expected to go to conference to reconcile the two bills, but passing the legislation Saturday was a huge victory for Senate Republicans and President Donald Trump, both looking for significant legislative achievements.

Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake, a key holdout, announced just after noon that he would back the plan.

Republicans could pass the legislation with 50 members and a tie-breaking vote from Vice President Mike Pence, but after Sen. Susan Collins of Maine announced her support Friday afternoon, Pence's would-be vote was unnecessary, as Collins' vote brought the tally to 51.

COMMENT:  Now the reconciliation process begins.  That will probably result in an even better bill.  President Trump may well have legislation on his desk by the end of the year.  But if it takes a bit longer, that's fine, as long as it's a good plan.

Watch for the Trump-hating press to mount a major campaign against the legislation.  Republicans must stay strong, and at least reasonably united.  And that begins with the president explaining the benefits of the plan directly to the American people, Reagan style, going over the heads of the journalists.

December 2, 2017