House Dems Pass Tax Plan Likely to be Rejected by Sen GOP

A restructured tax bill that goes against the principles of last month’s tentative budget agreement passed the House by a razor-thin margin Friday night.
The legislation passed 103-98 with two Democrats voting against it, and just one Republican supporting it.
After rank-and-file Democrats said they wouldn’t accept taxes on artistic performances and small games of chance, party leaders amended the tax bill to remove those measures, and added levies on natural gas drilling and smokeless tobacco.
Erik Arneson, the spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, says House Democrats set back budget talks by changing their minds.

"One set of decisions that we believe was locked down was the revenue package. And so this certainly will complicate future negotiations on difficult issues. There’s no question about that."

House Democratic leader Todd Eachus doesn't believe this sinks the earlier deal..."We’ll continue to engage with our Senate colleagues to focus on trying to conclude this budget as quickly as possible. But not, I’m sorry, at the expense of children and seniors and increases in school property taxes. Not at the expense of the issues that relate to protecting our forests."

House Speaker Keith McCall said he had counted on ten or more Republicans voting for the initial budget package. He says when it became clear the GOP wouldn’t offer any support, he needed to put together a bill Democrats would accept.