- Rep. Chris Collins, a New York Republican, said donors have told him to pass the GOP tax bill or "don't ever call" them again.
- The bill is being marked up in the House Ways and Means Committee, and GOP leaders want it passed by Christmas.
Rep. Chris Collins, a New York Republican, on Tuesday cited pressure from donors as an imperative for the GOP to pass its tax bill.
"My donors are basically saying, 'Get it done or don't ever call me again,'" Collins told reporters.
Republican leaders have portrayed the drive for tax reform as a benefit for middle-class families, often at the expense of special interests.
The donor pressure appears to be substantial, as the GOP has no major legislative victories to point to since the election of Donald Trump one year ago. Earlier this year, the party failed multiple times to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, the healthcare law better known as Obamacare.
However, conservative groups like the Club for Growth and Americans for Prosperity have already expressed reservations about the bill.
The bill, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, is making its way through the House Ways and Means Committee in markup sessions. Republican leaders are targeting next Friday for a deadline to pass the bill in the House and want it on Trump's desk by Christmas.
