Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" Will It Actually Pass This Time?

Article Heading: Senate Republicans Scramble to Pass Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill'

In a whirlwind of activity and high-stakes negotiations, Senate Republicans are racing against the clock to secure passage of a crucial budget bill dubbed the "Big Beautiful Bill." This legislation, central to President Donald Trump's second-term agenda, faces a self-imposed deadline of July 4th, adding urgency to the ongoing deliberations.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune has been at the forefront, pushing for a vote on the bill's latest iteration as recently as Saturday. The sprawling tax and spending measure narrowly cleared the House of Representatives two weeks prior, setting the stage for a potentially contentious battle in the Senate.

One of the main stumbling blocks has been internal divisions among Republicans regarding welfare program cuts needed to offset the cost of extending approximately $3.8 trillion (£2.8 trillion) in Trump tax breaks. Party leadership has been actively working to sway votes, aiming for an initial vote on the "Big Beautiful Bill" following the release of its hefty 940-page document.

The White House has thrown its full support behind the bill, with a memo sent to Senate offices emphasizing the importance of its passage. The memo reportedly warned that failure to approve the budget "would be the ultimate betrayal," highlighting the high stakes involved.

Efforts to appease Republican holdouts have led to several key revisions in the latest version of the bill. These amendments also incorporate input from the Senate parliamentarian to ensure compliance with chamber procedures. Key changes include:

• Increased Funding for Rural Hospitals: Addressing concerns from moderate Republicans who feared the original proposal would negatively impact their constituents.
• State and Local Taxes (SALT) Adjustment: Raising the SALT limit to $40,000 for married couples with incomes up to $500,000, aligning with the House-approved version. However, this cap would revert to $10,000 after five years.
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Modifications: Temporarily exempting Alaska and Hawaii from a proposed requirement for some states to contribute to the program's funding.

Despite these adjustments, the bill retains core elements such as extending the 2017 Republican tax cuts and incorporating new tax cuts championed by Trump, including deductions on Social Security benefits and the elimination of taxes on overtime work and tips.

However, controversial measures related to Medicaid remain in place. These restrictions and requirements on Medicaid, a healthcare program vital to millions of elderly, disabled, and low-income Americans, have drawn strong criticism from Democrats.

Democrats argue that the bill will limit access to affordable healthcare for millions. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that these Medicaid cuts could leave 7.8 million people uninsured.

Senator Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington state, voiced her concerns on social media, describing the bill as containing "the largest healthcare cuts in history."

The path forward remains uncertain. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has described a potential Saturday vote as "aspirational," and it's unclear whether Republicans have the necessary support to advance the bill. Senator Ron Johnson, a Republican from Wisconsin, has already stated his intention to vote "no," citing insufficient time to review the legislation.

"We just got the bill," Johnson said. "I got my first copy at about 01:23 in the morning."

As the July 4th deadline looms, the Senate Republicans face a critical test. The fate of Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" hangs in the balance, promising significant implications for the nation's economy and healthcare system. The coming days will be decisive in determining the future of this pivotal legislation.

Tags: Senate Republicans, Trump bill, Big Beautiful Bill, Tax bill, US budget, John Thune, Senate vote, Welfare cuts, Trump tax, July deadline, Medicaid, SNAP, SALT, Ron Johnson

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c15wn34z0z4o