US President Donald Trump’s massive tax and spending bill cleared a crucial test vote in the US Senate as Republicans raced to get the legislation to his desk. Trump hailed the “great victory" and congratulated Republican Senators on the task.
Senate Republicans narrowly cleared a procedural step to pass Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Act’ in a 51-49 vote, with US Vice President JD Vance also present to act as a tie-breaker if needed. Two Republicans opposed the motion to proceed to debate, joining all Democrats.
“Tonight we saw a GREAT VICTORY in the Senate with the “GREAT, BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL," but, it wouldn’t have happened without the Fantastic Work of Senator Rick Scott, Senator Mike Lee, Senator Ron Johnson, and Senator Cynthia Lummis. They, along with all of the other Republican Patriots who voted for the Bill, are people who truly love our Country!" the White House quoted Trump as saying.
“As President of the USA, I am proud of them all, and look forward to working with them to GROW OUR ECONOMY, REDUCE WASTEFUL SPENDING, SECURE OUR BORDER, FIGHT FOR OUR MILITARY/VETS, ENSURE THAT OUR MEDICAID SYSTEM HELPS THOSE WHO TRULY NEED IT, PROTECT OUR SECOND AMENDMENT, AND SO MUCH MORE. GOD BLESS AMERICA &, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!"
Senate members took the procedural step to kick off a debate on the $3.8 billion bill that would make Trump’s 2017 tax cuts permanent, end taxation on tips and overtime, boost border security funding and scrap green-energy tax credits passed during the Biden administration.
Trump told Republicans, who hold majority power in the House and Senate, to skip their holiday vacations and deliver the bill by July 4. However, Democrats are united against the bill and have demanded an out-loud hearing of the 940-page document, which is expected to delay the process of the debate by 12 to 15 hours, according to the New York Post.
Trump had warned Senate Republicans that a failure to pass his “Big Beautiful Bill" would be an “ultimate betrayal". The White House said the bill reflects the shared priorities of both Congress and the Trump administration.
“Therefore, the Congress should immediately pass this bill and send it to the President’s desk by July 4, 2025 to show the American people that they are serious about ‘promises made, promises kept’," it said. “President Trump is committed to keeping his promises, and failure to pass this bill would be the ultimate betrayal."
With the key procedural vote cleared, several hurdles still remain as Republican leaders need to satisfy numerous holdouts still demanding changes to the bill.
Trump’s multitrillion-dollar bill would lower federal taxes and infuse more money into the Pentagon and border security agencies, while downsizing government safety-net programs, including Medicaid.
With the key procedural vote cleared, several hurdles still remain as Republican leaders need to satisfy numerous holdouts still demanding changes to the bill.
Trump’s multitrillion-dollar bill would lower federal taxes and infuse more money into the Pentagon and border security agencies, while downsizing government safety-net programs, including Medicaid.
Earlier, three Republican Senators – Thorn Tillis, Rand Paul and Ron Johnson – voted against the key procedural vote on Trump’s bill, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune raced to prevent any more defections. Trump took to Truth Social to attack Tillis, saying the North Carolina senator “is making a BIG MISTAKE."
Source: News18