McConnell Shows Who’s Boss After 9-Year Battle Over Tax Treaties

Mitch McConnell was hearing the same message from multiple directions: It was time to roll him.

His fellow Republican from Kentucky, Rand Paul, for virtually his entire tenure in the U.S. Senate had blocked votes on treaties that multinational corporations depend on to avoid being taxed twice on the same income and to resolve disputes with foreign governments. The treaties are also used to help crack down on tax avoidance.

It was a nine-year-long stalemate, spanning Democratic and Republican administrations. Negotiations with the Treasury Department produced only frustration and accusation. Other senators tried workarounds, to no avail.

Until on ...