President Donald Trump has called on Senate Republicans to take decisive action in finalizing a crucial piece of legislation that aims to fund his second-term agenda.
During his journey to the NATO summit in the Netherlands, Trump urged his Senate counterparts to sequester themselves if necessary to ensure that they reconcile their differences and pass the comprehensive bill this week.
“To my friends in the Senate, lock yourself in a room if you must, don’t go home, and GET THE DEAL DONE THIS WEEK,” Trump posted on his social media platform.
He emphasized the urgency of the matter, stating, “Work with the House so they can pick it up, and pass it, IMMEDIATELY. NO ONE GOES ON VACATION UNTIL IT’S DONE.”
The pressure is mounting for both the Senate and House to align the different versions of the bill and deliver it to Trump by July 4.
Speaker Mike Johnson cautioned House Republicans on Tuesday that their celebrations for Independence Day might be at risk, as the House is awaiting the Senate’s adjustments to the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act while adhering to the Fourth of July deadline.
Johnson indicated that House members would not be dismissed for recess until they approve the Senate’s modifications.
“I said to keep your schedules flexible. July 4 is always a district work period. This is tradition, so everybody can go home and celebrate the Fourth of July with their constituents and their families,” he said.
However, he stressed the importance of passing the bill, saying, “there’s nothing more important that we should be involved in, or can be involved in than getting one big, beautiful bill to the president’s desk.”
The legislation intends to make the tax cuts from Trump’s 2017 tax reform permanent while allocating additional funds for border security and defense, scaling back Medicaid and SNAP benefits, and altering tax regulations on tips and overtime.
Republicans are striving to use the budget reconciliation process, which allows them to bypass the standard 60-vote threshold in the Senate, thus enabling them to advance the legislation with a simple majority.
A recent KFF poll revealed that nearly two-thirds of the public holds an unfavorable view of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, with 64% viewing it negatively compared to only 35% who view it favorably.
Support further dwindled when respondents learned about the potential impacts of the bill on healthcare, including a projected increase in the number of uninsured individuals and decreased hospital funding.
The poll also indicated widespread support for Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, with 83% of the public, including 74% of Republicans, expressing favorable views of Medicaid.
Senate Republicans convened behind closed doors on Monday night to discuss their version of the legislation while Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough reviewed the bill for reconciliation compliance.
Her decisions have caused frustration among Republican strategies, with Monday’s discussions primarily centered on how to adjust their provisions accordingly.
Despite various outstanding issues, there remains optimism within the Senate regarding the possibility of a vote on the bill this week.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito noted that their meeting also considered presidential priorities.
She expressed confidence that the bill would reach the floor later this week.
Johnson expects the Senate to cast their votes by Friday or Saturday, which could potentially push the House’s review of the Senate’s changes into the following week.
Challenges persist for Republicans as they work to navigate key provisions of the legislation.
One contentious issue is the state and local tax (SALT) deductions, where divisions exist between the House and Senate.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin revealed that while the Senate is ready to shift its stance on SALT, they typically will preserve the $40,000 cap negotiated by the House, allowing modifications to the income threshold.
Mullin stated, “It’s not going to lose any votes,” but acknowledged the discomfort that came with the consensus.
Conversely, Rep. Nick LaLota warned that the SALT caucus, consisting of five House Republicans, is positioned to oppose any legislation that deviates from their collective stance, which Johnson must consider due to the fragile majority in the House.
On the matter of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Capito remarked that provisions related to SNAP faced the most challenges due to the parliamentarian’s guidance, complicating potential savings for the federal government.
Sen. John Boozman, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, mentioned ongoing efforts to redesign the SNAP provisions to align with Senate regulations.
He emphasized the need to allow states sufficient time to adapt.
Furthermore, the debate regarding Medicaid cuts continues to hinder the Senate’s efforts, especially concerning the provider tax rate’s implications for rural hospitals.
Sen. Josh Hawley stressed the importance of addressing rural hospital concerns, asserting that reworking the Senate’s provider tax provisions back to the House framework would resolve significant issues pertaining to the bill.
He urged Republican leaders to collaborate with House members to ensure the legislation’s passage, remarking, “This is not a game of chicken. This is real now, it’s like, this is — this is not like some Model UN or student government. Like, this is a real deal.”
As Republicans endeavor to push through their comprehensive plan, the dynamic nature of negotiations and the multiple hurdles in the legislative process highlight the complexities of achieving a final agreement before the impending holiday.
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