The Senate voted 51–49 Saturday to advance President Trump’s sweeping $4 trillion legislative package, which includes tax cuts primarily benefiting the wealthy and deep cuts to Medicaid and other safety net programs. Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Rand Paul (R-KY) joined all Democrats in opposing the motion to proceed.
The bill, being fast-tracked through budget reconciliation, avoids the usual 60-vote threshold and could see a final vote Monday. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), both previously undecided, agreed to move forward after extracting concessions, including Medicaid delay provisions and rural hospital funding.
The bill also introduces new Medicaid work requirements and initially included a proposal to sell public lands, which was later withdrawn. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) flipped to a “yes” vote late Saturday, securing passage without Vice President JD Vance’s tie-breaker.
Tillis warned the bill could devastate healthcare in North Carolina, prompting a sharp rebuke from Trump, who hinted at supporting a primary challenger.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is forcing the entire 940-page bill to be read aloud to slow its passage.
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