A placard is affixed to the lectern before House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) speaks at a news conference at the Capitol in Washington (left), and Donald Trump (right)
The US House of Representatives moved a step closer early Thursday to voting on President Donald Trump’s key domestic policy bill, dubbed ‘big beautiful bill’, after Republican leaders managed to overcome opposition from conservative members who had threatened to block it.The Republican-led US House advanced Trump’s wide-ranging tax-cut and spending bill, clearing a procedural hurdle ahead of a possible final vote later in the day.The motion to proceed was approved by a 219-213 vote.Following hours of delay and negotiations, Speaker Mike Johnson achieved an initial win by securing enough support to bring the bill up for debate. The House voted 219 to 213 in favour, indicating that previously resistant Republicans had agreed to move forward. However, the bill still awaits a final vote for approval.
What’s next?
The House members have started their debate on the bill, after which they will vote on the legislation.
Resistant Republicans fall in line
Of the five Republicans who initially voted ‘no’, four of them changed their votes to ‘yes’, delivering the votes necessary to pass the rule and advance the bill to set up a vote for final passage.The bill, which was first passed by the House in May, narrowly cleared the Senate on Tuesday by a single vote. It returned to the House on Wednesday for approval of changes made in the Senate.The legislation supports several of former President Donald Trump’s campaign goals. It increases military spending, funds a large-scale migrant deportation program, and allocates $4.5 trillion to extend tax cuts introduced during his first term.However, it is projected to add $3.4 trillion to the national deficit over the next ten years and includes major reductions to the Medicaid health program, the largest since its start in the 1960s.The Senate passed the 887-page bill after making several changes that moved it further to the right compared to the version earlier approved by the House.Democratic lawmakers strongly opposed the bill, criticizing both its content and the process used to pass it.Speaking from the Capitol steps on Wednesday with members of his caucus, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said, “All Democrats will vote ‘no,’ and they only need to flip four Republicans to prevent the bill from passing.”Jeffries pointed to Republicans from politically competitive districts, including Rob Bresnahan and Scott Perry from Pennsylvania. “Why would Rob Bresnahan vote for this bill? Why would Scott Perry vote for this bill?” he said.Democrats said the proposed cuts to Medicaid could lead to “Americans losing their lives because of their inability to access health care coverage.” Jeffries said on Monday that Republicans are “literally ripping the food out of the mouths of children, veterans and seniors.”The bill introduces new work requirements of 80 hours a month for many adults receiving Medicaid. It also expands existing work requirements in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to more people. Additionally, states will have to pay more for food assistance programs.A major focus of the bill is extending tax cuts that are set to expire at the end of this year unless Congress takes action.According to the Tax Policy Center, a nonpartisan group analyzing tax and budget policy, the bill would lead to a $150 tax cut next year for the lowest income group, a \$1,750 cut for the middle group, and a $10,950 cut for the highest income group, compared to what they would pay if the 2017 tax cuts were allowed to end.
