The Senate, led by the GOP, took a significant step on Saturday night by narrowly advancing President Donald Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill.” The motion to proceed passed with a tight 51-49 vote, ending a lengthy standoff over this legislation, which includes many of Trump’s key spending and tax initiatives.
Senator Ron Johnson from Wisconsin switched his vote from “no” to “yes” just before the final tally. He was joined by Senators Mike Lee of Utah, Rick Scott of Florida, and Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, all of whom supported moving forward. In contrast, every Democrat, along with independent senators who caucus with them, plus Republicans Rand Paul of Kentucky and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, voted against the motion.
Vice President JD Vance was present at the Capitol to break a tie if necessary, but his vote was not needed. Senate Republicans are racing to meet Trump’s July 4 deadline to get this bill to his desk, while Democrats are using various tactics to slow down the process.
Immediately after the vote, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer requested a reading of the bill, which is over 900 pages long and could take more than ten hours to read. Senator Markwayne Mullin from Oklahoma highlighted on social media that several steps remain, including a floor reading of the bill, up to 20 hours of debate, and a “vote-a-rama” where numerous amendment votes will take place.
The House, controlled by Republicans, passed its version of the bill about a month ago, but the Senate has made some changes. Both chambers will need to agree on a final version. Since this legislation is being considered through the reconciliation process, it can pass with a simple majority, bypassing the filibuster.
Senator Lee decided to support the bill after withdrawing a controversial provision that would have allowed for the sale of public lands, which had caused concern among some GOP senators from Western states. Earlier, Trump criticized Senator Tillis for his “no” vote, citing concerns over Medicaid cuts. He also questioned Senator Paul, who has raised issues about the debt related to the bill.
As the Senate moves forward, the outcome of this legislation remains uncertain, and the political maneuvering is sure to continue.