GOP pushes Trump’s major bill forward as July 4 deadline approaches
Senate Republicans successfully navigated a tense procedural hurdle to advance President Donald Trump’s much-anticipated “big, beautiful bill” through a 20-hour debate. The fate of the megabill hung in the balance as speculation swirled about whether the latest version of the bill would satisfy the Republican lawmakers.
In a dramatic turn of events, nearly every Republican, with the exception of Sens. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and Rand Paul, R-Ky., voted to proceed with the bill after hours of negotiations. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., had a thin margin of error and could only afford to lose three votes.
The 51-49 party line vote was not without its fair share of drama. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., made a dramatic switch from a ‘no’ to a ‘yes’ vote, joining Sens. Rick Scott, R-Fla., Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., and Mike Lee, R-Utah, as they made their way to the Senate floor accompanied by Vice President JD Vance.
Vance was on standby for a potential tie-breaking vote, but his negotiating skills were ultimately put to use during the tense negotiations that took place on the Senate floor and in Thune’s office. Lawmakers kept the floor open for nearly four hours as discussions continued.
Despite the successful procedural vote, Senate Democrats planned to slow down the process by forcing the reading of the entire 940-page bill on the Senate floor, potentially prolonging the debate well into the night.
The bill faced challenges from both sides of the aisle, with concerns about Medicaid, energy tax credits, the state and local tax deduction, and other contentious issues threatening its survival. Last-minute changes were made to address these concerns and comply with Senate rules.
The Medicaid provider tax rate remained largely unchanged, with a one-year delay in its implementation. Additional provisions, such as a $25 billion rural hospital stabilization fund over the next five years, were added to appease lawmakers like Sens. Susan Collins and Josh Hawley.
Collins indicated that she would support the bill during the procedural vote but remained undecided on the final passage. Tillis expressed reservations about the changes to Medicaid and preferred a return to the House GOP’s version of the bill.
The SALT deduction, energy tax credits, and other provisions were also adjusted to accommodate lawmakers’ concerns. The bill now faces the “vote-a-rama,” where lawmakers can offer unlimited amendments before the final passage.
Once the marathon of amendments concludes, the bill will be sent back to the House GOP for final approval. President Trump signaled his intention to sign the bill, emphasizing its importance in fulfilling his promises and avoiding a “betrayal” by failing to pass it.
As the legislative process moves forward, lawmakers are working tirelessly to meet the deadline of getting the bill on the president’s desk by July 4. The final outcome of the “big, beautiful bill” remains uncertain, but the intense negotiations and dramatic twists indicate a high-stakes battle ahead for both Republicans and Democrats.
