The U.S. Senate on Monday entered a pivotal phase in the push to pass President Donald Trump’s ambitious second-term tax package, kicking off a marathon “vote-a-rama” session after a weekend of contentious debate and late-night maneuvering. The legislation, dubbed “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” is a cornerstone of Trump’s domestic agenda and includes sweeping tax changes, increased spending on border security and defense, and major cuts to health and nutrition programs.

The bill, already narrowly approved by the House, must clear the Senate with modifications before heading to the president’s desk. Lawmakers have set a self-imposed July 4 deadline to finalize the legislation, adding urgency to the deliberations.

Over the weekend, Senate Republicans advanced the measure with a slim majority, overcoming resistance from internal skeptics after protracted negotiations. Only two GOP senators — Rand Paul of Kentucky and Thom Tillis of North Carolina — voted against moving the bill forward. Tillis, who recently announced he won’t seek reelection, voiced sharp criticism of the bill’s Medicaid cuts, calling them a betrayal of Trump’s campaign promises to protect entitlement programs from indiscriminate cuts.

“It is inescapable that this bill in its current form will betray the very promise that Donald J. Trump made,” Tillis declared on the Senate floor Sunday night. “We are rushing toward an artificial deadline at the expense of getting the policy right.”

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates the bill would increase the federal deficit by nearly $3.3 trillion over the next decade, despite GOP assurances that spending boosts will be offset by reductions elsewhere. The legislation is being advanced through budget reconciliation, a procedural tactic that allows Republicans to pass the bill with a simple majority, bypassing a filibuster.

Senate Democrats have employed procedural delays to slow the bill’s momentum, including forcing a full reading of the legislation — a nearly 16-hour effort — before debate formally began. Now, with up to 10 hours of debate behind them, senators are locked in an amendment sprint that could see dozens of votes on controversial issues as Democrats aim to put Republicans on record ahead of the 2026 midterms.

In a contentious procedural move, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) secured a 53-47 party-line vote Monday to affirm the use of a favorable accounting baseline that makes the bill’s tax extensions appear less costly — a decision Minority Leader Chuck Schumer condemned as a “nuclear option.”

Despite the mounting pressure and internal fractures, Republican leadership remains confident. “Let’s vote. This is good for America,” Thune said on the Senate floor. Vice President JD Vance has been standing by to cast a tie-breaking vote if needed — though so far, his intervention has not been necessary.

While the GOP continues its push, Democrats are warning of political fallout. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) labeled the bill a “political albatross” and questioned whether Republican lawmakers expressing “quiet consternation” would stand by their principles when it comes time to cast the final vote.

“It’s not over until it’s over,” Warner said on CBS’s Face the Nation. “Many of my Republican friends know they’re walking the plank on this.”

As the Senate grinds through amendment votes, all eyes remain on a small number of Republican senators who could determine the fate of the bill. With the July 4 deadline looming, the stakes — both political and fiscal — are as high as ever.

By Staff Writer, Courtesy of Forbes | July 1, 2025 | Edited for WTFwire.com
Source: Yahoo News