Senate Republicans have unveiled their highly anticipated version of President Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” but its future remains uncertain. Senate Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham presented the intricate bill late Friday night, signaling the culmination of a month-long effort to adapt the House GOP’s original version. The package, derived from ten Senate committees, must clear a procedural hurdle to commence the countdown to its final passage. While there was speculation about a vote being possible by Saturday noon, lawmakers’ differing opinions on the bill’s content could complicate swift approval.
During discussions, Sen. John Kennedy from Louisiana urged Senate Majority Leader John Thune to bring the bill to the floor for a vote, suggesting that complaints could wait until after voting. However, Senate Republicans’ intent to modify contentious elements of the House’s proposal may threaten the bill’s progress, with Thune maintaining that they aim to deliver it to Trump by Independence Day. He remained optimistic about having the necessary votes to move forward, though the support from party members was yet untested.
Complicating matters, the Senate parliamentarian identified several provisions in the bill that did not comply with Senate rules, particularly under the Byrd Rule governing budget reconciliation. This necessitated further revisions to elements such as Medicaid tax rates and cost-sharing for food benefits. Republican leaders engaged in negotiations to address these issues, focusing on pain points like state and local tax (SALT) deductions, ultimately incorporating a $25 billion stabilization fund for rural hospitals to gain support from hesitant lawmakers.
Progress was noted regarding SALT deductions, as a new plan emerged that would maintain the House’s $40,000 cap initially, reducing it to $10,000 after five years. Despite mediation efforts led by Sen. Markwayne Mullin, uncertainty looms over whether this compromise will satisfy Senate Republicans. Additionally, concerns regarding spending cuts are driving a wedge between moderates and conservatives within both chambers of Congress, with some pledging to reject the legislation.
Republican leaders insist they will finalize the bill, hoping that dissenting lawmakers will relent due to pressure from the White House and their desire to leave Washington for a break. Once the procedural motion is passed, which requires only a simple majority, a 20-hour debate will ensue, allocated evenly between Republicans and Democrats. Following the debate, an extensive amendment process, known as “vote-a-rama,” will allow lawmakers to propose myriad changes, primarily expected to be used by Democrats to extend the process.
Should the bill pass in the Senate, it will return to the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson will once again need to unify potentially hesitant members. The original House bill barely advanced previously, signaling the complexities ahead. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized the urgency of passing the legislation, asserting that timely implementation would bolster economic certainty amid escalating uncertainties linked to Trump’s tariffs, asserting it was essential for economic acceleration in the approaching quarter.
