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Big, Beautiful Bill Clears Senate Hurdle

Big, Beautiful Bill Clears Senate Hurdle

Plus: SCOTUS Cat Fight

Lisa De Pasquale's avatar
Lisa De Pasquale
Jun 30, 2025
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Big, Beautiful Bill Clears Senate Hurdle
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In Today’s BRIGHT

Big, Beautiful Bill Clears Senate Hurdle
More Weekend Reads
SCOTUS Cat Fight
Ghost Students Haunt Financial Aid
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Vance the night away

Big, Beautiful Bill Clears Senate Hurdle

Fox News reported Senate Republicans narrowly advanced President Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” in a 51-49 procedural vote after late-night negotiations and high-stakes drama. Senators Thom Tillis and Rand Paul voted no, while Sen. Ron Johnson flipped his vote to yes, helping Republicans avert a collapse. Vice President JD Vance was on standby for a tie-breaker but instead helped broker compromises.

Key changes included delaying a Medicaid tax provision and adding a $25 billion rural hospital fund to win over moderates like Sen. Susan Collins. Additionally, Fox News reported:

The SALT deduction included in the House GOP’s version of the bill also survived, albeit the $40,000 cap will remain intact for five years. After that, the cap will revert to its current $10,000.

Other sweeteners, like expanding nutrition benefit waivers to Alaska and a tax cut for whaling boat captains, were thrown in, too, to get moderates like Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, on board with the bill.

Lee announced that he withdrew his open lands sale provision, which proved a sticking point for lawmakers in Montana and Idaho.

The 940-page bill faced a grueling 20-hour amendment session and a full reading forced by Democrats. I’d prefer they all be made to read it and then pass a pop quiz in order to vote. However, the reading is symbolic, as Politico noted that the chamber is mostly empty except for a few clerks as the bill is being read.

Republicans aim to finalize the bill before July 4, a tall order with ongoing GOP divisions. “Failure to pass this bill would be the ultimate betrayal,” the White House warned, reinforcing Trump’s commitment to signing it once it clears both chambers.

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