WASHINGTON – The Senate voted to begin a marathon debate about President Donald Trump’s package of legislative priorities − stuffed with tax cuts, Medicaid reforms and border security funding – despite lingering Republican concerns about the legislation.
Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, has said he is uncertain whether enough Republicans will support their version to send it back to the House.
“We’ll find out,” Thune said.
But the 51-49 vote to proceed signals that there is enough GOP support to at least begin the hours-long debate and expected voting on dozens of amendments.
GOP Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Thom Tillis of North Carolina each voted against debating the bill as written.
The vote that began at 7:30 p.m. EDT was held open for more than three hours as Thune scrambled to find a majority of votes to kickstart the debate.
If the Senate is ultimately successful, the House would have to vote on the upper chamber’s changes in order to reach Trump’s desk by his self-imposed deadline of July 4. The Senate has trimmed the House version from about 1,100 pages to 940 − and still faces votes on what are expected to be dozens of amendments.
The success of Trump’s domestic agenda for tax cuts and border security hangs in the balance. Republican approval of the spending blueprint would allow a majority of the 100-member Senate to approve all of Trump’s priorities included in it through legislation later in the year, rather than needing 60 votes to overcome a filibuster for each measure.
Here’s what we know about the legislative package:
Senate voting on whether to debate Trump’s bill
A long wait, then a vote to begin debate
With little fanfare, the Senate began voting at about 7:30 p.m. EDT on whether to begin the debate on Trump’s legislative package.
Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, simply asked the Senate to vote on a motion to begin debating the bill.
The move came after hours of inaction – interrupted by the occasional speech – since the Senate gaveled into action at 2 p.m.
– Bart Jansen
Nevada senator votes despite COVID-19
The vote was close enough and important enough that a Nevada senator voted despite testing positive for COVID-19.
“After experiencing mild symptoms, I have tested positive for COVID,” Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nevada, said in a social media post. “I’ll continue to follow my doctor’s guidelines and wear a mask while voting this weekend.”– Bart Jansen
Lee drops provision for public land sales from bill
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, agreed to drop a contentious provision for public land sales from the legislative package.
Environmental groups had criticized the provision for opening lands to logging and oil, gas and coal production. A fellow Republican, Sen. Tim Sheehy of Montana, threatened to vote against the bill unless the provision was removed, which could have scuttled the entire bill.
Lee announced on social media that he wasn’t able to secure safeguards that the land must be sold to Americans rather than the Chinese or investors.
“I continue to believe the federal government owns far too much land – land it is mismanaging and in many cases ruining for the next generation,” Lee said.
– Bart Jansen
Trump blasts Tillis over opposition to legislation
Trump criticized Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, one of three Republicans to vote against debating the legislation, as “making a BIG MISTAKE.”
Tillis had voiced concern about steeper Medicaid cuts in the Senate version of the bill than in the House version, and said he would have to oppose it.
But Trump noted he won the state in three presidential elections in the Tarheel State, where Tillis faces reelection next year. Trump highlighted provisions in the legislation to eliminate taxes on tips, overtime and Social Security. He argued taxes will rise if 2017 tax cuts aren’t extended, and that the country needs to increase the limit on borrowing.
“Thom Tillis is making a BIG MISTAKE for America, and the Wonderful People of North Carolina!” Trump said in a post June 28 on social media.
In another post, Trump said he would be meeting with “numerous people” who have asked to run in the GOP primary against Tillis. Trump said he is “looking for someone who will properly represent the Great people of North Carolina.”
– Bart Jansen
Democrats force Senate to read entire Trump bill
Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, forced Senate clerks to read the entire bill out loud, further delaying the start of debate on the bill.
While typically a formality, Schumer objected to waiving the reading of the bill. His objection forced clerks to read the 940-page document.
Then senators will begin hours of debate followed by hours of voting. A vote on final passage could come June 30.
– Bart Jansen
‘No cause for alarm’ on vote delay: Sen. Mike Rounds
South Dakota GOP Sen. Mike Rounds told CNN that he thinks Republicans will ultimately have the votes to begin the floor debate but were working on ensuring commitments for concerned GOP lawmakers that they’ll get the chance to offer amendments to address their issues.
“No cause for alarm,” Rounds said, adding that the lengthy delay from the plan to have a 4 p.m. EDT opening procedural vote stemmed from the wait for the Congressional Budget Office to analyze late changes to the Senate bill. Looking ahead, Rounds outlined a floor plan that would start with Democrats forcing a full reading of the 990-page bill, something the Republican said he hoped they would not do so that congressional staff can go home for the night and get rest before resuming debate on June 29.
Once the floor debate begins, Rounds said Democrats and Republicans would get 20 hours equally divided – with the GOP likely surrendering a considerable amount of that time. Only then would the Senate begin to hold what’s known as a “vote-a-rama” where they consider scores of amendments.”We’ve got a long couple of days ahead of us yet,” Rounds said. – Darren Samuelsohn
Business Roundtable endorses Trump bill
Business groups endorsed Trump’s legislative package for its anticipated economic benefits as the Senate prepared to debate it.
“This critical legislation would protect and enhance the transformative economic benefits that President Trump’s historic 2017 tax reform delivered for American businesses, workers and families,” Business Roundtable President Kristen Silverberg said. “We urge the Senate to swiftly pass this measure.” – Bart Jansen
Democrats to force reading aloud of the entire Senate bill
Senate Democrats unified in opposition to the legislation plan to force the chamber’s clerk to read the entire 990-page GOP tax, policy and spending bill aloud if Republicans vote to open the floor debate.
“Future generations will be saddled with trillions in debt,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York. “Under this draft Republicans will take food away from hungry kids to pay for tax breaks to the rich.”
Schumer’s plans mean that the Senate is sure to be in session late into the night, if not past dawn – presuming Republicans vote to begin the debate. – Darren Samuelsohn, Reuters
Elon Musk opens fire, calls Trump bill ‘utterly insane and destructive’
Billionaire Elon Musk, Trump’s former adviser on cutting government spending, fired off another set of attacks against the president’s legislative package for potentially killing millions of jobs.
Musk had quieted his harsh criticism of Trump and the legislation the week after his departure from government May 30. But he blasted the bill again as the Senate prepared to debate it.
“The latest Senate draft bill will destroy millions of jobs in America and cause immense strategic harm to our country!” Musk said June 28 on social media. “Utterly insane and destructive. It gives handouts to industries of the past while severely damaging industries of the future.”
As the Senate vote remained in limbo, Musk added another post warning the GOP of the electoral risks if they vote for the Trump-backed legislation that is not polling well with Republicans.
– Bart Jansen
Paging Vice President JD Vance: The Senate might need a tie-breaker
Coming out of a GOP lunch June 28, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, said he’s “under the impression” Senate leadership has the buy-in to advance Trump’s bill. But, “I’m thinking we need the VP,” he said.
Republicans need a simple 51-vote majority to pass the bill. But with a tight 53-member majority and ongoing disputes, every swing vote counts. If they hit 50, Vice President JD Vance, in his capacity as Senate president, can break the tie in Trump’s favor. –Savannah Kuchar
Environmental groups criticize bill’s support for fossil fuels
Environmental advocates criticized the Senate version of Trump’s legislative priorities for not just ending incentives for renewable energy but setting taxes on wind and solar power generation.
The advocacy group Natural Resources Defense Council estimated taxes on some projects could grow 50%. The bill could also trigger the largest sale of public lands in history for logging and oil, gas and coal production, according to the group.
Trump campaigned on boosting domestic energy production with the phrase “drill, baby, drill.”
“The new budget reconciliation bill text is a shocking fossil fuels industry fever dream come to life,” said Christy Goldfuss, the council’s executive director. “The bill has gone from fossil fuels boosterism to an active effort from Congress to kill wind and solar energy in the United States.” – Bart Jansen
GOP senators join Trump for golf
President Donald Trump had no public events on his calendar, but he had a couple of key allies join him for golf at his Northern Virginia course: CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Republican Sens. Eric Schmitt of Missouri, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.
After posting a picture with Trump on the golf course, Graham added that he partnered with Trump and Paul to beat Schmitt and Ratcliffe.
“Proud to announce no casualties,” Graham wrote. “A lot of fun! Big Beautiful Bill on the way.”. – Bart Jansen
Saying ‘no’ and voting ‘no’ two different things: Sen. Markwayne Mullin
Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Oklahoma, a supporter of Trump’s legislative package, told reporters at the Capitol that lawmakers warning about voting against it and actually voting “no” are two different things.
Sens. Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin; Thom Tillis, R-North Carolina; and Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, have each said they were opposed to the bill that is still changing. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, have voiced concerns about it.
“Everybody’s got concerns, but saying you’re voting ‘no’ and when you get to the floor and voting ‘no’ is two totally different things,” Mullin said. “I don’t believe in losing and we’re going to get the votes.” – Bart Jansen
Budget blueprint debate could be 30 hours of ‘nonsense’: Sen. Brian Moreno
Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, a supporter of Trump’s legislative package, said a final vote would likely come after 30 hours of “nonsense” from Democrats voting on proposals to change the contentious bill.
“It’s an absolutely historic and transformative piece of legislation that reverses four years of an assault on American workers,” Moreno said. “I want everybody watching this to remember this as you listen to probably what’s going to be 30-plus hours of complete nonsense from the other side.” – Bart Jansen
Senate meets before debating Trump legislative package
The Senate gaveled in at 2 p.m., in anticipation of beginning debate on President Trump’s legislative priorities, but lawmakers haven’t yet voted to begin talking about the measure.
A majority of senators must agree to begin debate, which can sometimes kill legislation before it begins. With 53 Republicans and 47 Democratic caucus members, just a few GOP lawmakers could prevent a debate.
But the hurdle appears a mere technicality because wavering GOP members such as Sen. Susan Collins of Maine have said she would support the debate even if not necessarily the final bill. -Bart Jansen
Sen. Josh Hawley says Republicans have “soul searching” to do
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, had been one of the leading voices among Senate Republicans raising concerns about proposed cuts to Medicaid and how that would impact his largely rural state.
But after studying the latest, finalized bill text — which delays pushing costs onto states and establishes a $25 billion rural hospital fund — Hawley said he’s a yes on passing the bill.
Beyond this weekend’s vote, though, Hawley said he intends to keep pushing back in effort to prevent the delayed federal spending cuts from ever going into effect.
“This has been an unhappy episode, here in Congress, this effort to cut to Medicaid,” he said. “And I think, frankly, my party needs to do some soul searching.” — Savannah Kuchar
Sen. Susan Collins remains a wildcard
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said she’ll support Senate leadership bringing the mega bill to the floor and kicking off presumably hours of debate. But she cautioned reporters that she remains uncertain how she’ll side when a final vote gets called.
“That does not, in any way, predict how I’m going to vote on the final passage,” Collins told reporters while walking into the Capitol for the start of the day’s events.
Collins said her final vote ultimately will depend on what the bill looks like after lawmakers — including herself — introduce and potentially tack on further amendments.
“There’s some very good changes that have been made in the latest version, but I want to see further changes,” Collins said. – Savannah Kuchar
What is in the Senate bill?
The largest provisions in the legislation would extend expiring tax cuts and create a few new ones, and a dramatic increasing in spending on border security.
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The heart of the legislation would extend Trump’s 2017 tax cuts which are set to expire at end of the year. Republicans have said defeat of the measure would lead to a $4 trillion tax hike over the next decade.
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New tax deductions Trump campaigned on would apply to tips for employees such as waiters through 2028 and for overtime pay. The Senate capped the deduction at $25,000 and weakened the break for individuals with income above $150,000.
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For border security, the bill would increase funding about $150 billion for the Department of Homeland Security. The bill authorizes $45 billion for new detention centers as Trump ramps up arrests and $27 billion for a mass deportation campaign.
Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, a Republican holdout on the bill, said he wouldn’t vote for the bill unless the debt limit gets a separate vote. But Republican leaders want to keep the unpopular vote within the overall package. −Bart Jansen
What’s not in the Senate version of the bill?
Republican support in the Senate waned after Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled several significant provisions would have to be removed to avoid a filibuster.
Republicans removed provisions to curb environmental regulations; restrict federal judges’ powers; bulk up immigration enforcement; and cut funding from a consumer protection agency.
MacDonough also ruled against provisions that aimed to reduce Medicaid spending on health care programs for undocumented immigrants. −Bart Jansen
What does Trump say about the Senate version of the bill?
The Trump administration “strongly supports” the Senate version of the bill, in a White House Office of Management and Budget statement June 28.
The statement isn’t intended to favor the Senate version over the House version on any particular provision, but to signal Trump would sign it if approved by Congress. The two-page statement highlighted provisions for tax cuts, border security, energy and defense.
“President Trump is committed to keeping his promises, and failure to pass this bill would be the ultimate betrayal,” the statement said. −Bart Jansen
Is there really a July 4 deadline?
Trump has told congressional Republicans he’s want this thing wrapped up by Independence Day.
But the due date is less procedural than it is political. The sooner the president can tout legislation that makes good on several of his 2024 campaign promises, including a tax limit on tips and overtime wages, plus extends his 2017 tax cuts for high-income earners, the better.
The more impending deadlines are sometime in August, when Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said the federal government is at risk of hitting its debt ceiling, and the end of the year, when Trump’s first-term tax cuts are set to expire. The legislation up for a vote in the Senate currently contains a provision to raise the debt limit.− Savannah Kuchar
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump agenda survives Senate vote; final outcome is TBD: Live updates
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