Republican lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives pushed President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax-cut and spending package closer to a decisive vote early Thursday, appearing to set aside internal disagreements over the bill’s financial impact.
During a marathon overnight session, lawmakers cleared a final procedural hurdle needed to begin debate on the bill in a 219-213 vote at around 3:30 a.m. ET (0730 GMT).
It was not clear when they would hold a final vote on passing the legislation. If it is approved, the bill will go to Trump to sign into law.
The bill would extend Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, cut health and food safety net programs, fund the president’s immigration crackdown, and eliminate many green-energy incentives. It also includes a $5 trillion increase in the nation’s debt ceiling, which lawmakers must address in the coming months to avert a devastating default.
Republicans broadly support the bill, which contains most of Trump’s domestic priorities, saying it would spur economic growth and deliver tax breaks to Americans across the economic spectrum.
Democrats Oppose The Bill
Democrats are united in opposition to the bill but lack the votes to stop it, as Republicans control both the House and the Senate by slim margins. Republicans can afford no more than three defections in either chamber to get a final bill passed.
Early on Thursday, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries was four hours into a speech in which he blasted the bill as a giveaway to the wealthy that would come at the expense of less affluent Americans.
“This disgusting abomination is not about improving the quality of life of the American people,” he said. “The focus of this bill, the justification for all of the cuts that will hurt everyday Americans is to provide massive tax breaks for billionaires.”
Several dozen Democrats joined Jeffries on the House floor, while only a handful of Republicans were in the cavernous chamber. Jeffries’ speech recalled a record-setting April speech by Democratic Senator Cory Booker that accused Trump of “recklessly” challenging the nation’s democratic institutions.
The Bill Proposes Major Cuts
The past two weeks have shown deep Republican divides on the bill, which would add $3.4 trillion to the nation’s $36.2 trillion in debt. That debt has grown steadily over the past two decades regardless of which party was in control in Washington.
The bill would also make major cuts to social programs including Medicaid, ultimately leaving nearly 12 million Americans without health insurance. Rural hospitals have warned that could force them to scale back service, prompting Republicans to add $50 billion to help keep them afloat.
A handful of Republican holdouts have objected to the bill. One, Senator Thom Tillis, opted not to seek re-election after voting against it.
Nonetheless, Trump has succeeded in getting the votes to advance the legislation at each step of the way. The Senate passed the legislation by the narrowest possible margin on Tuesday.
Trump Phone Calls
Votes in the House, which Republicans control by a 220-212 margin, were held open for hours on Wednesday during the day and overnight as House Speaker Mike Johnson and the White House talked with reluctant members.
Republican leaders said Trump made late-night phone calls to win over wavering Republicans, but they predicted that some would still vote against it.
“Nothing has been unanimous in this for process, and that’s going to hold true on the floor,” Representative Steve Scalise, the No. 2 House Republican, told reporters.
Trump kept up the pressure. “FOR REPUBLICANS, THIS SHOULD BE AN EASY YES VOTE. RIDICULOUS!!!” he wrote on social media.
Any changes made by the House would require another Senate vote, which would make it all but impossible to meet Trump’s self-imposed deadline of getting the legislation approved by the July 4 Independence Day holiday.
Scalise said that delay would not happen.
“What really got everybody to the finish line is the realization, there aren’t going to be any more changes to this bill. It’s time to come together, make a decision,” he said.
(With inputs from Reuters)
