Senate Republicans are inching closer to a final vote on President Donald Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill,’ amid intense partisan debate over its fiscal implications, including massive tax cuts and Medicaid overhauls. The upcoming ‘vote-a-rama’ will allow for an onslaught of amendments from both sides, with Republicans aiming to mold the bill to placate holdouts, while Democrats will attempt to stall or derail the legislation through procedural measures. Lawmakers debated for over 12 hours on the megabill, which began on Sunday and ended Monday morning, with the next major hurdle being the marathon ‘vote-a-rama,’ when senators can submit an unlimited number of amendments to the bill.
Senate Republicans will use the ‘vote-a-rama’ to refine the bill, while Democrats will attempt to delay or sabotage it by submitting amendments that could potentially render the bill inoperable. The debate was predictably partisan, featuring impassioned rhetoric from both sides, with Republicans arguing that the bill would spur economic growth and prevent the Trump tax cuts from lapsing, while Democrats warned of the long-term impact on the federal deficit. Senate Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo emphasized the importance of maintaining the tax cuts, arguing that the refusal to raise taxes is what increases the deficit.
Democrats, particularly Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, warned that the bill’s provisions, such as changes to Medicaid and green energy tax subsidies, would result in a massive increase in the national debt. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released two analyses of the bill, suggesting that under current policy, the bill would add $507 billion over the next decade, but under current law, it would add a staggering $3.3 trillion. Graham asserted that as budget chair, he has the authority to dictate the scoring process, and that the GOP had passed a resolution to give him that authority.
Republicans have defended cuts to Medicaid as necessary to address waste, fraud, and abuse, while critics argue these cuts could harm vulnerable populations. Rand Paul and Thom Tillis, both Republicans, have expressed concerns about the bill’s effect on the deficit and its impact on Medicaid, with Tillis accusing the president of being misled by his advisors on the healthcare proposals. Paul, who opposes the addition of a $5 trillion debt ceiling hike, has vowed to vote against the bill during final passage. The debate highlights the deepening ideological divide over the nation’s fiscal policy and the potential consequences of the proposed tax and spending reforms.