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Trump Moving Forward On Tax Reform After Healthcare Defeat

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- President Donald Trump is pressing ahead with other items on his legislative agenda including reforming the tax code.

The development comes amid continued finger-pointing after Republicans suffered a major defeat last week in their quest to repeal and replace Obamacare.

The president is seeking support from moderate Democrats to accomplish other items on his legislative agenda now that Republican plans to overhaul Obamacare are on hold.

The president went from blaming Democrats for the bill's failure Friday to blasting conservative members of his own party.

"I think the losers are Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer," said Trump on Friday. Then on Sunday, he tweeted, "Democrats are smiling in D.C. that the Freedom Caucus, with the help of Club For Growth and Heritage, have saved Planned Parenthood & Ocare!" 

Congressman Mark Meadows - the chairman of the House Freedom Caucus - says he still believes a deal can get done.

"Conversations over the last 48 hours are really about how we come together in the Republican conference and try to get this over the finish line," said Meadows (R-NC).

But Trump administration officials are signaling that they may be ready to work with Democrats to fix healthcare.

"I think it's time for our folks to come together, and I also think it's time to potentially get a few moderate Democrats on board as well," Priebus on Fox News Sunday.

"We Democrats, provided our Republican colleagues drop replace, are willing to work with our Republican friends," said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

House Speaker Paul Ryan asked the president last week to ditch the healthcare bill when it became clear Republicans wouldn't get enough votes to pass it.

A spokesman for Ryan said the two spoke over the weekend and both were eager to get back to work.

Ryan is set to addresses the AIPAC conference meeting in Washington on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Freedom Caucus said it looks forward to working with President Trump on his next big legislative agenda - tax reform.

The president wants to cut taxes for middle-class families, lower the corporate tax rate by 15 percent and reduce the number of tax brackets.

Senator Chuck Schumer said the Democrats will work with President Trump on tax reform too - as long as cuts are aimed at the poor and middle class and not the rich.

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