As Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) works to get his entire caucus united against the Republican's tax reform plan, he is helping fundraise for Sen. Claire McCaskill (D., Mo.), who has met with President Trump at the White House to talk taxes and said last week she doesn't care what Schumer has to say.
Schumer is going all out against tax reform, issuing a warning last week to Democrats considering the bill that it would be disastrous for their reelection hopes. He has been stressing the need to be just as united as they were during their successful fight against Republican efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
McCaskill was not receptive to the push from Schumer, telling the Fresno Bee it will have no impact on her.
"I could care less what the party line is," McCaskill said late last week. "I could care less what Chuck Schumer says."
Despite McCaskill's statement that Schumer won't impact her vote, the Senate minority leader sent out an email to his supporters the next day soliciting donations for her campaign and saying Democrats "need" her in the Senate to successfully oppose Trump's policies like they did on health care.
"Senator McCaskill has been constantly vigilant in defending the needs of her Missouri constituents, and her vote has stopped the worst of Trump's policies—like that disaster of a health care bill—from becoming reality," Schumer wrote in an email with the subject, "Without Claire, we’re in trouble."
Schumer made no mention of tax reform in his email but praised McCaskill for "standing strong on national issues" even as she manages to work across the aisle.
"Claire is a great senator and a great leader," Schumer wrote. "She's the kind of person we need in the Senate, one who has a record of breaking through gridlock to get things done for Missourians, while standing strong on national issues."
McCaskill met with Trump at the White House last month to discuss tax reform and said she was able to find agreement with him on some issues. There is agreement between McCaskill and Republicans on the need to cut the corporate tax rate.
Schumer said during a Monday press conference "just about every single member of the Democratic caucus has spoken out against this tax plan."
Neither representatives for Schumer or Pelosi responded to requests for comment on discussions between the two senators on tax reform.