The Senate opened a high-stakes voting session Monday morning to advance President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax and spending proposal, with GOP leaders aiming to finalize the legislation before the July 4th deadline.
Nicknamed the “Big, Beautiful Bill,” the 940-page package includes a broad range of measures: an expanded child tax credit, a $5 trillion increase to the national debt ceiling, extended 2017 tax cuts, funding for border security, and substantial changes to Medicaid and clean energy programs.
The legislation faces a narrow path to passage. With a slim margin for dissent, Republicans can afford to lose only three votes. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Rand Paul (R-KY) have already signaled their opposition.
Tillis voiced concerns over Medicaid cuts, warning that nearly 663,000 North Carolinians could lose coverage if funding shortfalls materialize. He said he would withhold support “until it’s demonstrated to me that we’ve done our homework” and can fulfill the promises made.
Paul criticized the bill’s impact on the federal deficit, saying the $5 trillion debt ceiling hike was “an admission that they know they aren’t controlling the deficit,” which, he argued, doesn’t align with conservative values.
One of the bill’s most contentious elements is its proposed overhaul of Medicaid. Analysts project that by 2034, nearly 11.8 million Americans could lose health coverage due to reduced federal funding and stricter eligibility criteria.
As the Senate moves through a lengthy “vote-a-rama,” Democrats plan to press a series of proposed changes, with Minority Leader Chuck Schumer vowing to introduce amendments “again and again and again.”
