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Senate Republicans ram Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' through key test vote
Senate Republicans ram Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' through key test vote
White House warns failure to pass would be 'ultimate betrayal' as package heads for marathon amendment session
Senate Republicans pushed President Donald Trump’s "big, beautiful bill" past a procedural obstacle following hours of intense negotiations that cast doubt on the megabill's future.
Questions arose about whether Republicans would find the most recent version of the massive bill, which was unveiled shortly before the stroke, to be satisfactory.
TRUMP'S 'GRAND, MAGNIFICENT BILL' ENCOUNTERS A REPUBLICAN FAMILY DISPUTE AS THE SENATE UNVEILS ITS FINAL VERSION
Nearly every Republican, except Sens. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and Rand Paul, R-Ky., all voted to unlock a marathon 20-hour debate on the bill. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., could only afford to lose three votes.
Though successful, the 51-49 party line vote was not without drama. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., flipped his vote from a ‘no’ to ‘yes’ in dramatic fashion, as he and Sens. Rick Scott, R-Fla., Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., and Mike Lee, R-Utah, made their way to the Senate floor accompanied by Vice President JD Vance.
Vance was summoned in case his vote was required to break a tie, but ultimately, only his skills in negotiation were utilized.
No legislator wished to be the fourth and final vote that would lead to the bill's demise. Republican leaders kept the session open for almost four hours as discussions unfolded, first on the Senate floor and later in Thune's office.
The bill will not be debated right away due to the Senate Democrats' strategy to mandate the reading of the entire 940-page legislative giant on the Senate floor – a tactic that could consume several hours and extend late into the night.
The future of the megabill, and its chances of passing the initial hurdle, remained uncertain at best after senators convened privately on Friday, and again during another luncheon on Saturday.
The megabill’s fate, and whether it could pass its first test, was murky at best after senators met behind closed doors Friday, and even during another luncheon on Saturday.
Lingering concerns in both chambers about Medicaid — specifically the Medicaid provider tax rate and the effect of direct payments to states — energy tax credits, the state and local tax (SALT) deduction and others proved to be pain points that threatened the bill’s survival.
ANXIOUS REPUBLICANS TURN TO TRUMP AMID DIVISIONS OVER 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL'
Last-minute modifications were implemented to either appease dissenters or adhere to Senate regulations. In fact, the Senate parliamentarian removed several provisions from the bill that required revision.
The Medicaid provider tax rate remained mostly unchanged, although its start date was postponed by one year. Additionally, a $25 billion rural hospital stabilization fund was introduced over the next five years as an incentive for lawmakers such as Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and others.
Collins expressed her intention to back the bill through the procedural challenges, mentioning that the rural hospital stabilization fund is a positive initial step. However, it remains uncertain whether she will support the bill when it comes to a final vote.
"If the bill remains unchanged, I will likely oppose it, but I think this procedural vote to advance the bill for amendments and discussion is justified," Collins stated.
Tillis, who shares concerns regarding the modifications to Medicaid and prefers the House GOP's original version, indicated that he would not support the bill during the final vote.
The SALT deduction included in the House GOP’s version of the bill also survived, albeit the $40,000 cap will remain intact for five years. After that, the cap will revert to its current $10,000.
Other sweeteners, like expanding nutrition benefit waivers to Alaska and a tax cut for whaling boat captains, were thrown in, too, to get moderates like Murkowski onboard with the bill.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., talks with reporters in the U.S. Capitol after the House passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc
Lee declared that he has retracted his provision for the sale of open lands, which had become a contentious issue for legislators in Montana and Idaho.
Nevertheless, Republicans who are dissatisfied with the existing version of the bill plan to utilize the upcoming "vote-a-rama," during which lawmakers can propose an unlimited number of amendments, to attempt to modify as much as possible prior to the final approval.
On the other hand, Democrats will leverage this process to impose as much difficulty as they can on Republicans.
Once the amendment marathon concludes, which could be in the wee hours of Sunday morning, lawmakers will move to a final vote to send the bill, which is an amendment to the House GOP’s version of the "big, beautiful bill," back to the lower chamber
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