How many votes will Trump save by raising the rate to 22% as opposed to how many will he lose by moving it from 20%?
I don't think he has to worry about votes at this point. The GOP is committed. Both bills have passed both house houses. For individual congressmen and senators to vote against the reconciliation bill now because their precious corporate rate of 20% was not achieve would be the height of hypocrisy and political suicide. Trump most certainly knows this.
Trump got them to commit - and now he is negotiating again. I assume that is the way he operates, because it certainly was the way he operated in business.
“Trump told reporters, remarking on a core provision of the Senate bill. “It could be 22 when it all comes out, but it could also be 20. We’ll see what ultimately comes out.””
That doesn’t say Trump might go to 22%.
Keeping the corporate rate at 20% costs Americans their refundable child tax credits. Raising the corporate rate to 22% enable American families to continue receiving refundable child tax credits and could increase them to $2000/per child as Senator Rubio fought to do.
It's simple. Millions of American families count on their child tax credits as income that helps them make ends meet. I know I do. Take it away and they're not going to be happy. It won't bode well for 2018. The democrats won't even need to lie in their campaign speeches.