Lawmakers Doze Off During Marathon Tax Bill Session

Several lawmakers, including Rep. Blake Moore (R-Utah), Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), were seen dozing off during an over 17-hour House Ways and Means Committee session to finalize President Trump’s major agenda bill. The committee advanced a $3.8 trillion tax cut package, aiming to make the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent and proposing new measures such as eliminating taxes on tips and increasing state and local tax deductions. Rep. Moore was woken up by Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R-Minn.) just before 5 a.m. to participate in a vote, prompting laughter and viral attention online. Dingell defended her brief rest by citing exhaustion from staying up 31 hours to oppose Medicaid cuts. The marathon sessions underscored deep partisan divides over the legislation, which faces a closely divided House. Public reaction ranged from amusement to concern about the demanding nature of Congressional work.