The One Big Beautiful Bill Act has narrowly passed the Senate with a 50-50 vote, thanks to Vice-President JD Vance’s decisive vote. The legislation, a key part of Trump’s agenda that proposes significant tax cuts and spending cuts, faces uncertainty as it moves to the House, where opposition persists.
Trump’s Major Tax and Spending Bill Passes Senate Amidst Controversy
Trump’s Major Tax and Spending Bill Passes Senate Amidst Controversy
After an intense voting session, the Senate has passed Trump’s significant tax and spending legislation with a tie-breaking vote from Vice-President JD Vance, heading to the House for further scrutiny.
After more than 24 hours of intense debate and negotiating, Republicans in the US Senate have successfully passed Donald Trump’s landmark tax and spending legislation, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The bill cleared the Senate with a narrowing 50-50 vote, following a tie-breaking intervention by Vice-President JD Vance. The passage is a significant milestone for Trump's upcoming second-term agenda, albeit amidst a backdrop of controversy and division within Congress.
Despite the bill's approval, the challenges remain palpable as it now shifts focus to the House of Representatives, where it met prior opposition. Only a day earlier, House Republicans had barely passed a related version of the legislation, making the path forward uncertain. Trump had set a deadline of July 4 for the completion of the bill, further pressuring lawmakers.
The Senate session culminated in applause from Republican members after Vance announced, “The bill as amended is passed,” while Democrats expressed their discontent visibly. Tensions leading up to the vote included disputes over budget deficits, social spending, and healthcare, as some Republican Senators, including Susan Collins and Rand Paul, broke ranks and voted against the bill.
After resolving her concerns regarding Medicaid cuts, Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski ultimately supported the bill. However, she expressed her lingering discomfort with the hasty process, labeling the debates as one of the toughest periods she experienced in office.
In a celebratory visit to Florida, Trump commented on the bill's success, highlighting its comprehensive nature. The proposed legislation aims to make lasting tax cuts permanent and offset the expected loss in revenue through substantial budget reductions across numerous welfare programs.
Following the bill's passage, Senate Democrats attempted to leverage procedural tactics to delay its approval, demanding extensive readings of the bill and extending the debates through numerous amendments. However, with the Senate vote concluded, the focus now pivots to the House, where Republican support is split.
Concerns about fiscal responsibility loom large among House Republicans as some fiscal hawks within the party criticize the anticipated addition of $650 billion to the national deficit annually under the new plan. Conversely, others are apprehensive about the magnitude of spending cuts to Medicaid, previously passed by the Senate.
Moreover, the proposed welfare reductions incited backlash not just from Democrats but also from influential figures like tech billionaire Elon Musk, who has signaled potential opposition to the legislation while warning that Republicans who endorse it may face political repercussions.
As the House works against Trump’s July 4 deadline, the future of this pivotal legislation remains hazy, caught in the crossfire of a divided Congress and competing priorities.
