Republicans headed for showdown with themselves on tax reform

Tax reform legislation has finally won approval in both the House and Senate. Republicans now face the difficult task of merging the two different plans into a compromise bill.

And it won’t be easy.

The two measures are different in key areas and there are lawmakers in both chambers who are unwilling to accept some of the tax provisions introduced by their Republican counterparts across the Capitol.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., well aware of the differences that will have to ironed out, declined to speculate on what Senate provisions House lawmakers might accept or seek to change.

Lawmakers will return this week and immediately vote to establish a conference committee made up of Republican House members who will join senators tasked with hammering out a deal.