Senate Republicans Modify Gun Legislation
Senate Republicans have made changes to President Trump’s proposed legislation, notably removing the $200 tax on firearm silencers, also referred to as suppressors, and eliminating similar tax incentives for short barrel rifles.
This development is seen as a win for Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who holds a prominent position on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
On Friday, Sen. Elizabeth McDonough expressed opposition to several provisions aimed at loosening restrictions on gun silencers and compact firearms under the National Firearms Act.
She indicated that these provisions might infringe upon the Bird Rules, regulations governing legislation that removes enhanced background checks for those purchasing suppressors. Such changes could complicate the path for a simple majority vote in the Senate.
Legislation moving through the Senate in budget negotiations must largely pertain to budgetary matters. Any significant policy changes that are indirectly or conditionally related to the budget would require a 60-vote threshold to overcome any procedural objections.
The removal of the $200 tax on suppressors and short barrel rifles is found in section 70436 of the revised Senate bill announced by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) late Friday.
Cornyn and Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) also achieved another success when GOP leaders kept their favored language in the updated Senate bill, which includes $85 million to move the space shuttle Discovery from the Smithsonian Aerospace Museum to local nonprofit groups in Houston.
However, Congress noted on Friday that parts of the bill concerning funding for these transfers were in violation of the Bird Rules.
To address this, the teams for Cornyn and Cruz adjusted their language to facilitate a more favorable outcome with Congress later that day, resulting in their inclusion in the latest Senate Budget Settlement Bill.
Senate Majority Leader John Tune (R-D.) informed a Republican colleague that he plans to vote on Saturday in support of moving the House Pass settlement package forward. He intends to make amendments to the bill within the 940-page Senate Alternative Text.
