Bernie Sanders is coming back to Louisville this week to rally against the Republican tax plan

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders is set to visit Louisville on Friday on the "Protecting Working Families Tour" to rally against the Republican tax plan.

The Vermont senator and former presidential candidate will rally Kentucky residents and community leaders against "Republican attempts to further rig the system in favor of the wealthy and well-connected at the expense of working families," according to a news release from NotOnePenny and MoveOn.org.

The release describes the Republican plan as a way to "give billions in tax breaks to millionaires, billionaires and wealthy corporations."

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The Louisville event will be held at 7 p.m. at the Galt House Hotel, at 140 North 4th Street, before heading to Dayton and Akron, Ohio, as well as Reading, Pennsylvania.

The rally is free to attend. Attendees can RSVP on MoveOn.org's website.

"This legislation goes well beyond taxes. If passed, the Republicans will then rediscover the 'deficit crisis,' and push aggressively for massive cuts in Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, education, nutrition, affordable housing and more," Sanders said in the release. "That is why I am going on the road this week to talk directly to working people. If we stand together we can defeat this horrific bill."

Friday's rally will not be the first time Sanders has visited Louisville – he came to the city in April to build support for the Democratic Party and spoke at Waterfront Park in May 2016 during his run for the Democratic nomination in the 2016 presidential election.

The tax package advanced to the full Senate Tuesday, according to the Associated Press. GOP leaders hope to have the full Senate take up the bill later this week.

The AP reports the tax package "blends a sharp reduction in top corporate and business tax rates with more modest relief for individuals."

Earlier this week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said tax reform was the "single most important thing we can do right now" to spur economic growth, support jobs and boost the middle class.

"This is our once-in-a-generation opportunity, and we should meet the challenge," McConnell said on the Senate floor.

Kentucky's other senator, Republican Rand Paul, also plans to vote in support of the Senate plan. He wrote an opinion piece for Fox News Monday that calls the bill a "true test" for his colleagues.

"The next few weeks in Washington will be important," he wrote. "Will we keep our word and cut taxes? Will we do what we campaigned on and repeal the ObamaCare mandate? I will fight for both, and I look forward to ending the year keeping these important promises to the American people."

Darcy Costello: 502-582-4834; dcostello@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @dctello. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: www.courier-journal.com/darcyc.