Republican opposition persists on House procedural vote for the megabill, with Trump criticizing the holdouts, claiming they are losing votes in the process.
In a tense political landscape, the advancement of President Donald Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" is hanging by a thread, as some House Republicans refuse to vote for the procedural step due to fiscal and policy concerns. This dissent, which has caused delays and intense negotiations, could potentially derail the bill's passage.
Rep. Bradford Betz, a digital breaking reporter for the mentioned news website, is closely following the developments. The slim Republican majority in the House (220-212) leaves very little room for defections, meaning that even a few Republicans voting against the procedural step could jeopardize the bill's advancement.
The procedural vote to bring the Senate-passed bill to the floor for final passage was stalled for several hours because enough House Republicans were opposed. This delay was unusual and forced Republican leaders to work almost around the clock to convince skeptical members and meet President Trump's push for a July 4th deadline.
The potential consequences for the bill’s passage include the risk that it may fail in the House if more Republicans continue to withhold support. Democrats unanimously oppose the bill, and they only need as few as four House Republicans to join their opposition to block its passage. Given the narrow Republican majority, the rebellion of even a handful of GOP members could prevent the bill from passing, creating significant pressure on Republican leadership and Trump to secure the votes necessary.
Trump's political operation has targeted dissenters like Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky to try to bring them on board. However, Massie recently changed his vote from a "yay" to a "nay," stating most of the world isn't concerned about the difference between the rule resolution vote and the final passage vote.
Rep. Tim Burchett, a holdout on the "Big Beautiful Bill," stated they were getting close to resolving issues. The rule vote on the bill has been open for over four hours to pressure holdouts for a majority vote.
House Speaker Mike Johnson vowed to press ahead with the vote on the more than 800-page bill, recalling lawmakers to Washington to seize on the momentum of the bill's passage in the Senate. Trump touted the benefits of the bill's passage, stating it would result in the "Largest Tax Cuts in History and a Booming Economy."
However, Trump wrote on Truth Social that the vote should be an "EASY YES" for Republicans, calling the holdouts' refusal to vote "RIDICULOUS." The procedural "rule vote" allows lawmakers to debate ahead of a final vote on the "Big Beautiful Bill."
As the vote on the bill continues, the Associated Press has contributed to this report to provide up-to-date information on the developments. The list of Republican lawmakers yet to cast their vote includes Reps. Josh Brecheen, Tim Burchett, Eric Burlison, Michael Cloud, Andy Harris, Bob Onder, Scott Perry, and Chip Roy. The fate of Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" remains uncertain as the House continues to deliberate.
- The uncertainty surrounding the passage of President Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" is heightened by the political disagreements within the Republican party, as some House Republicans are withholding their votes due to fiscal and policy concerns, causing delays and intense negotiations.
- The political landscape, general news, policy-and-legislation, and economy are intertwined in the ongoing debate surrounding the "Big Beautiful Bill". The result of the vote could impact not only the bill's progression but also the overall economy, as President Trump has stated that its passage would lead to the "Largest Tax Cuts in History and a Booming Economy."
