logo
US House Republicans head toward final vote on Trump's sweeping tax-cut Bill

US House Republicans head toward final vote on Trump's sweeping tax-cut Bill

Business Times2 days ago
[WASHINGTON] Republicans in the US House of Representatives advanced President Donald Trump's massive tax-cut and spending Bill towards a final yes-or-no vote early on Thursday (Jul 3) morning, appearing to overcome internal party divisions over its cost.
During a marathon overnight session, lawmakers cleared a final procedural hurdle needed to begin debate on the Bill in a 219-213 vote at around 3.30 am ET (0730 GMT). It was not clear when they would hold a final vote.
As dawn broke in Washington, the top House Democrat, Hakeem Jeffries, was well into what was turning into an hours-long speech, calling out Republican lawmakers by name as he blasted the package as a giveaway to the wealthiest Americans.
'This one big, ugly Bill-this reckless Republican budget – this disgusting abomination is not about improving the quality of life of the American people,' he said, a scathing reference to Trump's name for his signature legislation: One Big Beautiful Bill.
'The focus of this Bill, the justification for all of the cuts that will hurt everyday Americans is to provide massive tax breaks for billionaires.'
His remarks had echoes of Democratic Senator Cory Booker's record-setting April speech that accused Trump of 'recklessly' challenging the nation's democratic institutions.
BT in your inbox
Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.
Sign Up
Sign Up
Democrats are united in opposition to the bill, but on their own lack the votes to stop the Bill in the chamber, which is controlled 220-212 by Trump's Republicans.
Republicans can afford no more than three defections to get a final Bill passed.
The past two weeks have shown deep Republican divides on the bill, which would add US$3.4 trillion to the nation's US$36.2 trillion in debt and make major cuts to social programmes including Medicaid.
Republican lawmakers have long railed against the growth of the debt, which has continued over the past two decades regardless of which party was in control in Washington.
A handful of Republican holdouts have objected to the Bill. One, Senator Thom Tillis, opted not to seek re-election after voting against it. Nonetheless, Trump has succeeded in getting the votes to advance the legislation at each step of the way.
Votes in the House were held open for hours on Wednesday during the day and overnight as House Speaker Mike Johnson and the White House talked with reluctant members.
Johnson expressed optimism on Wednesday night, saying lawmakers had a 'long, productive day' discussing the issues. He praised Trump for making phone calls to the holdouts through the early hours of Thursday morning.
'There couldn't be a more engaged and involved president,' Johnson told reporters.
Senate passage
The Senate passed the legislation by the narrowest possible margin on Tuesday after intense debate on the Bill's hefty price tag and US$900 million in cuts to the Medicaid healthcare programmes for low-income Americans.
Any changes made by the House would require another Senate vote, which would make it all but impossible to meet Trump's self-imposed deadline of getting the legislation approved by the Jul 4 holiday.
The Bill would raise the nation's debt ceiling by US$5 trillion, a necessary step to avoid a devastating default later this summer.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that almost 12 million people could lose health insurance as a result of the Bill.
The legislation contains most of Trump's top domestic priorities.
It would extend Trump's 2017 tax cuts, cut health and food safety net programmes, fund Trump's immigration crackdown, and zero out many green-energy incentives. It also includes a US$5 trillion increase in the nation's debt ceiling, which lawmakers must address in the coming months or risk a devastating default. REUTERS
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Elon Musk Slams Trump's $5 Trillion Bill, Proposes 'America Party' to Break Two-Party Grip
Elon Musk Slams Trump's $5 Trillion Bill, Proposes 'America Party' to Break Two-Party Grip

International Business Times

time4 hours ago

  • International Business Times

Elon Musk Slams Trump's $5 Trillion Bill, Proposes 'America Party' to Break Two-Party Grip

Elon Musk used Independence Day to reignite political tensions, taking aim at the U.S. government's fiscal policies and the dominance of its two-party structure. Posting on X, the tech mogul and SpaceX CEO denounced former President Donald Trump's latest legislative push—a sweeping second-term spending bill—as irresponsible and damaging. Calling the bill "insane" and a betrayal of working Americans, Musk accused both Republicans and Democrats of operating as a single, corrupt entity. "It's time to ask if we want independence from the two-party—or some might say uniparty—system," Musk wrote on July 4. He then floated the idea of a new movement: the "America Party," even launching a poll to test public support for a third-party alternative. In follow-up posts, Musk laid out a potential roadmap for gaining political influence without needing a large base. He suggested focusing efforts on just a handful of swing congressional districts and Senate seats. "With razor-thin margins in Congress, just a few seats could control key legislation," he argued, positioning the hypothetical party as a kingmaker rather than a traditional power bloc. This wasn't Musk's first warning. On July 1, he vowed that if the $5 trillion bill passed, he would immediately begin the process of launching a new political organization. The bill, which expands the federal debt ceiling by a record amount, passed the Senate earlier that week. In a particularly scathing remark, Musk mocked the bipartisan approval of the bill, calling Washington a "Porky Pig Party." He accused lawmakers of selling out the American people in favor of special interests, saying the legislation increases national debt while ignoring the economic struggles of ordinary citizens. Musk's opposition to the bill aligns with his longstanding criticism of government overspending. However, his latest posts go further—suggesting he may be preparing to back or build an actual third party, something rarely attempted in modern U.S. politics with success. While Musk has not officially declared a political campaign or party formation, his July 4 statements were more than symbolic. They suggest a growing interest in shaping national policy beyond the tech and business sectors. His massive social media following and influence give him an unusual platform to sway political sentiment, especially among independents and younger voters disillusioned with traditional parties.

Gaza Humanitarian Foundation says two of its US aid workers injured in Gaza
Gaza Humanitarian Foundation says two of its US aid workers injured in Gaza

Straits Times

time5 hours ago

  • Straits Times

Gaza Humanitarian Foundation says two of its US aid workers injured in Gaza

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Palestinians carry aid supplies from the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, May 29, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled/File Photo JERUSALEM - The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation said on Saturday that two American aid workers had suffered non-life-threatening injuries in a targeted attack at a food distribution site in Gaza. The U.S.- and Israeli-backed GHF said in a statement that the injured Americans were receiving medical treatment and were in a stable condition. "The attack – which preliminary information indicates was carried out by two assailants who threw two grenades at the Americans – occurred at the conclusion of an otherwise successful distribution in which thousands of Gazans safely received food," the GHF said. In addition to aid workers, the GHF employs private U.S. military contractors tasked with providing security at their sites. It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack. The Israeli military had no immediate comment when contacted by Reuters. The Hamas-run interior ministry in Gaza on Thursday had warned residents of the coastal enclave not to assist the GHF, saying deadly incidents near its food distribution sites endangered hungry Gazans. The GHF began distributing food packages in Gaza at the end of May, bypassing traditional aid channels, including the United Nations which says the U.S.-based organisation is neither impartial nor neutral. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Asean needs 'bolder reforms' to attract investments in more fragmented global economy: PM Wong Singapore CPF members can make housing, retirement and health insurance plans with new digital platform Singapore CPF's central philosophy of self-reliance remains as pertinent as ever: SM Lee Asia Dalai Lama hopes to live beyond 130 years, much longer than predicted Sport Liverpool will move on after Jota's tragic death, but he will never be forgotten Singapore Tan Cheng Bock, Hazel Poa step down from PSP leadership; party launches 'renewal plan' Singapore Rock climbing fan suddenly could not jump, get up from squats Life Japanese food in Singapore under $20: 5 hawker stalls serving restaurant-quality sashimi and donburi The GHF has said it has delivered more than 52 million meals to Palestinians in five weeks, while other humanitarian groups had "nearly all of their aid looted". Since Israel lifted an 11-week aid blockade on Gaza on May 19, the U.N. says more than 400 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid handouts. A senior U.N. official said last week that the majority of people killed were trying to reach aid distribution sites of the GHF. Footage released by GHF has shown at least one aid site to be overrun with no clear distribution process. Palestinians have described the sites as chaotic. REUTERS

California's biggest wildfire of the year spreads to 28,000 hectares
California's biggest wildfire of the year spreads to 28,000 hectares

Straits Times

time8 hours ago

  • Straits Times

California's biggest wildfire of the year spreads to 28,000 hectares

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox A firefighter works to tackle the Madre Fire near New Cuyama, California, on July 3. LOS ANGELES - A massive wildfire raging in California for the past three days has ravaged more than 28,330 hectacres, as hundreds of firefighters fought to bring it under control. The 'Madre Fire' broke out on July 2 in San Luis Obispo, a rural county in the heart of the US state. Around 200 people were ordered to evacuate, with dozens of buildings threatened by the flames. The fire has engulfed 28,700 hectares since July 2, and more than 600 personnel and 40 fire engines have been deployed to contain it, Cal Fire, the state's fire service, said in an update on July 4. It is the largest blaze so far this year in California, which was scarred by wildfires that destroyed swaths of Los Angeles at the start of the year. This summer is the first since President Donald Trump announced plans to gut federal agencies tasked with fighting climate disaster. On July 4, California Governor Gavin Newsom said 15 new fires had ignited on federal land in the past 24 hours, and called on the president to prioritize funding for firefighting resources. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Asean needs 'bolder reforms' to attract investments in a more fragmented global economy: PM Wong Singapore CPF members can make housing, retirement and health insurance plans with new digital platform Singapore CPF's central philosophy of self-reliance remains as pertinent as ever: SM Lee Asia Dalai Lama hopes to live beyond 130 years, much longer than predicted Sport Liverpool will move on after Jota's tragic death, but he will never be forgotten Singapore Tan Cheng Bock, Hazel Poa step down from PSP leadership; party launches 'renewal plan' Singapore As her muscles weaken, 26-year-old leans on best friend for strength and support Life Japanese food in Singapore under $20: 5 hawker stalls serving restaurant-quality sashimi and donburi 'Trump needs to WAKE UP and start funding federal firefighters and land-management teams in these rural communities – instead of giving tax cuts to billionaires,' Mr Newsom, a Democrat, wrote on X. 'Trump's incompetence is endangering lives.' A separate statement from the governor's press office said July 4 that the Madre Fire 'remains in a very isolated location – away from homes'. It comes after several other blazes, raising fears of a difficult summer ahead for the state already traumatized by the wildfires that killed 30 people in January. Southern California had an unusually dry winter and spring, and vegetation is already parched, UCLA extreme climate events specialist Daniel Swain has said. Intense and widespread heat this summer, and dry brush 'will heavily factor into burning conditions later this season,' he added. Since returning to the White House in January, Mr Trump has ordered budget and personnel cuts at the Forest Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and FEMA, the federal agency that coordinates disaster response. On July 2, Mr Newsom accused the Republican president of not funding enough wildfire prevention projects. 'We need an equivalent commitment of resources – not rhetoric,' Mr Newsom told reporters, noting that more than half of the land in California is under federal jurisdiction. AFP

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store