President Donald Trump is intensifying pressure on Republican lawmakers who are holding up a procedural vote on the $1.2 trillion ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ in the House. The vote has stalled with five Republicans opposing and eight others yet to cast their ballots. Trump is accusing the holdouts of jeopardizing the country’s economic future and threatening a ‘failed economy.’ The president is urging Republicans to support the bill, which he claims would bring ‘Largest Tax Cuts in History and a Booming Economy,’ while warning that the holdouts are risking ‘Biggest Tax Increase in History and a Failed Economy.’ The procedural vote allows for debate before the final passage, but the narrow GOP majority of 220-212 leaves little room for defections.
House Speaker Mike Johnson is working to rally support, aiming to secure the necessary majority to pass the legislation before it heads to the president’s desk for a signature. The procedural ‘rule vote’ allows lawmakers to debate ahead of the final vote, which is a crucial step in moving the bill forward. The debate has been ongoing for over four hours, with leaders pressing Republicans to get a majority vote. GOP lawmakers can only afford to lose three votes, and the narrow majority means every vote is critical.
Among those opposing the vote are Reps. Andrew Clyde of Georgia, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Keith Self of Texas, Victoria Spartz of Indiana, and Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who changed his vote from a ‘yay’ to a ‘nay.’ When asked why he switched his vote, Massie told Fox News Digital,