Trump Pushes for Tax-and-Spending Bill Amid Senate Uncertainty
On Thursday, President Donald Trump gathered congressional leaders and cabinet members at the White House, urging support for his extensive tax-and-spending proposal ahead of a looming 4 July deadline. Despite his push, uncertainty surrounds its Senate passage, as Majority Leader John Thune considers an initial vote on the bill scheduled for Friday.
The proposal, hailed by Trump as a “big, beautiful bill,” includes tax cuts and increased funding for immigration enforcement. Speaking to a group of citizens affected by crime and economic hardship, Trump emphasized the bill’s benefits but did not address his desire for a swift signing before the Independence Day holiday. Instead, he urged attendees to lobby their lawmakers for support, demonstrating his focus on rallying public pressure.
However, Democrats have condemned the legislation, dubbing it the “big, ugly betrayal” for its significant cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, which could leave millions without health insurance and food assistance. The proposed funding reductions would mark the most severe cuts to Medicaid since its inception, affecting an estimated 16 million individuals.
Republicans plan to utilize budget reconciliation to bypass the filibuster in the Senate. Yet, challenges are mounting. The Senate budget committee’s recent ruling that a tax change for Medicaid funding violates reconciliation rules could escalate the bill’s costs, projected to add $4.2 trillion to the budget deficit over the next decade. This raises concerns among rightwing House members advocating for strict spending cuts.
Moderate Senate Republicans, including Thom Tillis and Lisa Murkowski, express reluctance to endorse the bill, calling it a “work in progress.” Democrats celebrated the recent ruling as a significant victory, asserting it protects healthcare for millions rather than funding tax cuts for the wealthy. As negotiations continue, the path to enactment remains precarious.
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