WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump is closing in on a big second-term win on his signature legislative package of tax reductions and Medicaid changes as House Republicans get ready to hold a final vote on July 3 to send the bill to the president’s desk by their Independence Day deadline.
But there still is a drop of drama ahead.
After an all-day revolt on July 2 from conservative Republicans over the bill’s soaring price tag, the House will hold another vote as soon as this morning that will force members to side for or against Trump’s $3.3 trillion domestic agenda, ending taxes on tips and overtime, cutting Medicaid, and bolstering border security.
“We’re in a good place right now,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, told reporters after “a long, productive day” meeting with skeptical colleagues. “This is the legislative process. This is exactly how I think the framers intended for it to work.
Trump and Republicans leaders in Congress are now on the cusp of a major victory. The GOP captured a power trifecta during the 2024 elections and has used that political muscle to force their bill through both chambers at a rapid-fire pace, despite deep reservations within their own party.
The House approved its initial version of the bill on a 215-214 vote in May. After four days of marathon debate and voting, the Senate approved its version in a 51-50 vote July 1. Three Republicans voted no and Vice President JD Vance broke the tie.
“The bill passed, and I think it’s going to do very well in the House,” Trump told reporters July 1 after the Senate vote. “We’ll see how that works out, but it looks like it’s ahead of schedule.”
As the House opened debate July 2 on the Senate-passed measure, Trump spent his time out of the public eye with no events scheduled. In the morning, the president, Vance, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz and other Republican lawmakers huddled at the White House with reluctant GOP lawmakers, including South Dakota Rep. Dusty Johnson, who later described the talks as “really productive.”
Multiple House Republicans who preferred their version of the bill remained throughout the day opposed to the Senate version, including members of the Freedom Caucus, which aims to cut federal spending. Their concerns were partly to blame for Johnson and GOP leaders holding open a series of procedural floor votes while working behind the scenes to line up support.
“There won’t be any vote until we can get satisfied,” Rep. Ralph Norman, R-South Carolina, said, adding he was aware of about 25 lawmakers have lingering concerns about the bill. “Look, I got problems with all this bill. I got trouble with all of it.”
Ultimately, Johnson and the House jolted into overnight action and approved a plan that bars any amendments that would change the Senate-passed version of the bill. That’s what sets up the expected July 3 vote and a chance to deliver for Trump, who has been urging lawmakers to send him the bill by Independence Day while also acknowledging the timeline is flexible. Any House changes made to the legislation mean it would need to be sent back to the Senate, which has already left Washington for the Independence Day holiday and is not scheduled to return until July 7.
Hakeem Jeffries slams Trump’s bill in ‘magic minute’ speech
Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized Trump’s sweeping tax and domestic policy bill under a procedural tactic known as ‘magic minute,’ which allows party leaders to have unlimited speaking time on the floor.
Jeffries’ speech started shortly before 5 a.m., as the bill moves closer to passing the House, and it has already stretched past an hour.
“I rise today in strong opposition to Donald Trump’s disgusting abomination…that guts Medicaid, rips food from the mouths of children, seniors and veterans, and rewards billionaires with massive tax breaks,” Jeffries said.
He condemned the cuts in spending for Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in the bill, arguing that the cost of living is too high.
“Cruelty should never be the objective or the outcome of legislation that we consider here in the House of Representatives,” he said. – Sudiksha Kochi
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Live updates: Trump nearing ‘big win’ with key House vote on tax bill
