It could be a Big, Beautiful weekend as Congress grapples over Trump’s bill

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., was in high spirits on Tuesday afternoon after a lengthy lunch meeting with fellow GOP members and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to discuss the Big, Beautiful Bill. Thune’s optimism was palpable as he addressed the Congressional press corps in the Ohio Clock Corridor of the Capitol for his weekly press briefing.

Thune’s enthusiasm was met with a dose of skepticism from reporters, including myself, who pointed out the grueling schedule ahead for the Senate as they prepared to tackle the Big, Beautiful Bill over the weekend. The Senate was gearing up to pass the bill on Saturday or Sunday, with the possibility of extending into early Monday morning.

The looming challenge for Senate Republicans was the math. They could only afford to lose three votes and still pass the bill with a tie-breaking vote from Vice President Vance. Several GOP senators were identified as potential dissenters, including Sens. Rand Paul, Ron Johnson, Rick Scott, Josh Hawley, Thom Tillis, Mike Lee, John Kennedy, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, John Curtis, and Jim Justice.

As the Senate braced for a potentially contentious debate over the bill’s provisions, the issue of the SALT deduction for state and local taxes in high-tax states emerged as a sticking point. White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett expressed confidence in finding a resolution to the issue within 24 to 48 hours.

Despite the challenges, Thune remained optimistic about garnering the necessary votes to pass the bill. He acknowledged the diverse viewpoints within the Republican caucus but emphasized the need to compromise and move forward with the legislation.

The Senate’s timeline for passing the bill included a procedural vote on Friday to officially bring the bill to the floor. Following that, a marathon “vote-a-rama” session was expected to take place late Saturday or early Sunday, culminating in the bill’s passage.

The House, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, was poised to vote on the bill shortly after the Senate’s approval. House conservatives, however, expressed concerns about potential changes to the bill and urged the Senate to accept the House’s original version.

As the weekend approached, all eyes were on Capitol Hill as the Senate and House navigated the intricate process of passing the Big, Beautiful Bill. The stakes were high, and the outcome remained uncertain. The coming days promised a flurry of legislative activity and political maneuvering as lawmakers worked to advance President Trump’s signature legislation.

In conclusion, the road ahead for the Big, Beautiful Bill was paved with challenges and uncertainties. The Senate and House faced a daunting task of passing the legislation amid competing interests and ideological differences. As the clock ticked towards the weekend, the fate of the bill hung in the balance, awaiting the final votes and decisions of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.