Key GOP Senator Susan Collins Lays Out Her Demands for Tax Bill

The White House and GOP leaders released a tax framework last month that calls for a top individual rate of 35% and leaves room for tax committees to add another rate above that. It also proposes the repeal of the estate tax. The House Ways and Means Committee is scheduled to release its version of a tax bill on Wednesday. Collins said the Senate will likely offer a tax bill that differs from the House version.

Collins's demands are important because Republicans have only 52 seats in the 100-member Senate and little hope of Democratic support — they can't afford to lose more than two members to get a bill passed.

Still, she said: "There is far more outreach on the tax bill" than there was on health care.

Collins declined to say she'll oppose a tax bill that adds to the deficit, in contrast to her colleague Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee. But she said she cares about the debt and doesn't want the tax bill to "blow a hole" in the deficit. She argued that "certain tax cuts done right will increase economic growth" and produce revenue.

"I hope very much to be able to support a tax reform package," Collins said. "It's very difficult — I'm not going to say I can guarantee that because I don't know what's going to be in it."

—Read Muddled White House Tax Message Clouds Pitch for Trump Plan on ThinkAdvisor.