Senate Republicans optimistic about tax reform after meeting with Trump on Capitol Hill

The White House and congressional leaders released a framework for tax changes, but many key details have been left to tax committees. Here’s how that process is working. Jeff Dionise, Ramon Padilla, Paul Singer and Herbert Jackson, USA TODAY.

WASHINGTON — Senate Republican leaders remained optimistic Tuesday that tax reform legislation would pass the body in the next few days, while at the same time acknowledging that the vote will likely be very close.

Their positive comments followed a one-hour meeting in the Capitol by President Trump with the entire Senate GOP caucus and were bolstered by the announcement by Sen. Bob Corker that he would support the bill.

The bill also passed a final hurdle before heading to the Senate floor when the Senate Budget Committee later Tuesday approved combining it with legislation that opens up part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil and gas exploration.

Corker of Tennessee had previously said he would oppose any tax bill that would raise the deficit and was among several GOP senators who have expressed reservations about the legislation.

Corker said his support was based on an agreement to include a trigger in the bill that would rescind the tax cuts if they caused a hike in the deficit. He did not provide details of the language.

“I think we’ve come to a pretty good place,” Corker said. "The White House is all fine with this."

Another positive sign for Republicans, who hold a bare 52-48 margin in the Senate, was the tone of Tuesday's meeting, which included a back-and-forth between Trump and Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, another member with concerns about the bill.

“It was very respectful,” said Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho. "Both of them were well-schooled."

Risch said the mood was “very different” from a previous session between Senate Republicans and Trump before a failed attempt to repeal and replace Obamacare.

Still, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell described the process of wrangling enough votes for passage as "a challenging exercise.”

"I think I’m sitting there with a Rubik’s cube trying to get to 50 (votes)," McConnell said.