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Senate Republicans rammed President Donald Trump’s “huge, lovely invoice” via a procedural hurdle after hours of tense negotiations that put the megabill’s destiny into query.
Hypothesis swirled whether or not Republicans could be glad by the most recent version of the mammoth invoice, which was launched simply earlier than the stroke of midnight Saturday morning.
Almost each Republican, besides Sens. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and Rand Paul, R-Ky., all voted to unlock a marathon 20-hour debate on the invoice. Senate Majority Chief John Thune, R-S.D., might solely afford to lose three votes.
Although profitable, the 51-49 occasion line vote was not with out drama.
TRUMP’S ‘BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’ FACES REPUBLICAN FAMILY FEUD AS SENATE REVEALS ITS FINAL TEXT
President Donald Trump speaks at an occasion to advertise his home coverage and finances agenda within the East Room of the White Home, Thursday, June 26, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photograph/Mark Schiefelbein)
Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., flipped his vote from a ‘no’ to ‘sure’ in dramatic vogue, as he and Sens. Rick Scott, R-Fla., Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., and Mike Lee, R-Utah, made their method to the Senate ground accompanied by Vice President JD Vance.
Vance was referred to as in case he was wanted for a tie-breaking vote, however solely his negotiating companies ended up getting used.
No lawmaker wished to be the fourth and ultimate decisive vote to kill the invoice. Republican management saved the ground open for practically 4 hours whereas negotiations continued – first on the Senate ground after which finally in Thune’s workplace.
The invoice will not instantly be debated because of Senate Democrats’ plan to pressure the studying of all the, 940-page legislative behemoth on the Senate ground, which might drain a number of hours and go deep into the night time.
SCHUMER TO FORCE SENATE READING OF TRUMP’S ENTIRE ‘BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’
The megabill’s destiny, and whether or not it might cross its first take a look at, was murky at greatest after senators met behind closed doorways Friday, and even throughout one other luncheon on Saturday.
Lingering issues in each chambers about Medicaid — particularly the Medicaid supplier tax charge and the impact of direct funds to states — power tax credit, the state and native tax (SALT) deduction and others proved to be ache factors that threatened the invoice’s survival.
ANXIOUS REPUBLICANS TURN TO TRUMP AMID DIVISIONS OVER ‘BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’
Senate Majority Chief John Thune, R-S.D., is seen after the Senate luncheons within the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Name, Inc through Getty Pictures)
Nonetheless, modifications had been made on the last-minute to both sate holdouts or adjust to the Senate guidelines. Certainly, the Senate parliamentarian stripped quite a few objects from the invoice that needed to be reworked.
The Medicaid supplier tax charge was saved largely the identical, besides its implementation date was moved again a yr. Additionally included as a sweetener for lawmakers like Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and others was a $25 billion rural hospital stabilization fund over the subsequent 5 years.
Collins stated that she would assist the invoice via the procedural hurdle, and famous that the agricultural hospital stabilization fund was a begin, however whether or not she helps the invoice on ultimate passage stays to be seen.
“If the invoice isn’t additional modified, I will likely be leaning in opposition to the invoice, however I do imagine this procedural vote to get on the invoice so that folks can provide amendments and debate it’s acceptable,” Collins stated.
Tillis, who can be involved in regards to the modifications to Medicaid and wish to see a return to the Home GOP’s model, stated that he wouldn’t vote in favor of the invoice throughout ultimate passage.
GOP SENATOR CALLS FOR PARLIAMENTARIAN’S FIRING AFTER SERVING MEDICAID BLOW TO TRUMP’S ‘BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’
The SALT deduction included within the Home GOP’s model of the invoice additionally survived, albeit the $40,000 cap will stay intact for 5 years. After that, the cap will revert to its present $10,000.
Different sweeteners, like increasing vitamin profit waivers to Alaska and a tax lower for whaling boat captains, had been thrown in, too, to get moderates like Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, on board with the invoice.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., talks with reporters within the U.S. Capitol after the Home handed the One Huge Stunning Invoice Act on Thursday, Might 22, 2025. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Name, Inc )
Lee introduced that he withdrew his open lands sale provision, which proved a sticking level for lawmakers in Montana and Idaho.
Nonetheless, Republicans who usually are not glad with the present state of the invoice will use the forthcoming “vote-a-rama,” when lawmakers can provide a vast variety of amendments, to try to change as a lot as they’ll earlier than ultimate passage.
Democrats, nonetheless, will use the method to inflict as a lot ache as doable on Republicans.
As soon as the modification marathon concludes, which might be within the wee hours of Monday morning, lawmakers will transfer to a ultimate vote to ship the invoice, which is an modification to the Home GOP’s model of the “huge, lovely invoice,” again to the decrease chamber.
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From there, it is a lifeless dash to get the bundle on the president’s desk by July 4.
In a press release of administration coverage obtained by Fox Information Digital, Trump signaled that he would signal the invoice.
“President Trump is dedicated to protecting his guarantees,” the memo learn. “And failure to cross this invoice could be the last word betrayal.”
