Republicans close in on historic tax reform

House and Senate lawmakers on Tuesday will begin passing the first major overhaul of the tax code in more than 30 years, and plan to send the legislation to President Trump by mid-week.

Republicans appear to have maintained near-unanimous support to pass the legislation, despite efforts by Democrats to build public opposition to the measure by labeling it a tax cut for the rich that will explode the deficit.

“We’re closer than ever to seizing this once-in-a-generation opportunity to update our tax code, make Americans stronger and help middle-class families keep more of their hard-earned money,” Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Monday.

The House expects to vote on the bill first, sometime around noon, GOP aides said Monday. The Republican majority is expected to pass it without any Democrats and with just a handful of GOP defections.

GOP lawmakers huddled late Monday in the Capitol basement, where they thunderously applauded the plan behind closed doors.