This week, the Capitol felt like a massive library packed with students pulling all-nighters before exams and for exhausted Republican lawmakers, the pressure was just as intense, if not more, since President Donald Trump was keeping a close eye on their every move.The final stage of Trump’s sweeping tax and spending bill began Monday morning, with a marathon session of proposed amendments to the Senate version of the legislation. The process, known as a “vote-a-rama,” lasted for more than 24 hours.The process is typically a chance for the minority party to put the majority on the spot with tough political votes.This time, however, it allowed senate majority leader John Thune to work behind the scenes and address concerns from hesitant lawmakers. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina ultimately voted no, shortly after revealing he wouldn’t run for reelection.In the early morning hours, senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska wrapped herself in a cozy blanket, while senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts sported a zip-up hoodie on the typically formal senate floor.In contrast to Tillis, senator Lisa Murkowski, who had previously voiced concerns over the bill’s cuts to Medicaid and clean energy, ultimately switched to a “yes” vote on Tuesday morning. Her support helped move the bill forward, sending it back to the House for further debate and a final vote on the revisions.House speaker Mike Johnson called lawmakers back to Washington right away, despite summer storms grounding flights. Some members resorted to renting vans and driving. Representative Nancy Mace shared her road trip on social media, making stops at Waffle House and Wawa while wearing pajamas.Moderate Republicans and hardline fiscal conservatives openly criticized the bill, pledging to vote “no” unless it was revised to meet their demands. Meanwhile, Trump slammed the dissenters onTruth Social, repeating his insistence that the House deliver the bill to him by July 4.Trump got his wish completed with a narrow vote on Thursday, but not before Democratic house minority leader Hakeem Jeffries delivered a record-breaking, eight-hour-long speech on the house floor, condemning the bill as a “full-scale attack” on health care and social safety-net programs.
