Two top Republican senators — Bob Corker of Tennessee and Marco Rubio of Florida — said Friday that they would support the party's $1.5 trillion tax plan, boosting bill's chances of passing next week.
"After many conversations over the past several days with many individuals from both sides of the aisle across Tennessee and around the country — including business owners, farmers, chambers of commerce and economic development leaders — I have decided to support the tax reform package we will vote on next week," Corker said in a statement posted on Twitter.
Republicans hold a slim 52-48 majority in the Senate.
Rubio said he would support the plan after the child tax credit was made more generous for low-income families.
Senate leaders said Friday that the bill would allow low-earners using the credit get up to $1,400 in IRS refunds if they owed little or no taxes.
That was up from $1,100 in the earlier version.
Rubio tweeted that the change was "a solid step toward broader reforms which are both Pro-Growth and Pro-Worker."
Both senators cautioned, however, that the bill was "far from perfect," with Corker saying that "I believe that this once-in-a-generation to make U.S. businesses domestically more productive and internationally more competitive is one we should not miss."
Corker has squared off with the Trump White House on many issues since announcing his retirement in September.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement that President Donald Trump "greatly appreciated Sen. Corker's phone call and pledge to support tax cuts.
"He sees a great entrepreneurial spirit being released in our country — and he is a part of that spirit."
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