Passing Trump Tax Bills in Major US House Committee Vote
Donald Trump’s extensive tax cut proposal, which had faced delays due to Republican disagreements on spending cuts, finally gained approval from a significant congressional committee on Sunday. This advancement sets the stage for a possible vote in the House later this week.
This victory is notable for Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, especially after hardline Republican conservatives previously halted the bill’s progress in the House Budget Committee. Their objections were centered on proposed cuts to the Medicaid program for low-income individuals and the removal of green energy tax credits.
In a rare Sunday night session, four hardline members from the committee’s 21 Republicans cast “present” votes, allowing the bill to move forward. It passed by a narrow margin, 17-16, with all Democrats opposing it.
Much of the day was spent by the hardliners in discussions with House GOP leaders and White House representatives.
“Deliberations are ongoing and will likely continue throughout the week as we prepare to present this significant bill to the House,” said House budget chair Jodey Arrington.
Nonpartisan analysts suggest that should the bill pass, it would extend the 2017 tax cuts—Trump’s hallmark legislative success—and potentially add $3 trillion to $5 trillion to the national debt over the next decade. Moody’s noted this current debt trajectory could push the debt to 134% of GDP by 2035, influencing its recent downgrade of the US credit rating.
Nevertheless, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent downplayed concerns raised by Moody’s during interviews on Sunday, arguing that the economic growth stimulated by the tax cuts would surmount the anticipated debt.
“I don’t give much weight to Moody’s downgrade,” Bessent remarked during a CNN appearance, reflecting sentiments aligning with the White House’s stance.
On the other hand, economic specialists caution that this downgrade from one of the major credit agencies signals excessive national debt. They argue it should incentivize lawmakers to either enhance revenue or cut spending.
A Call between Trump and Putin
The Kremlin announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to speak with President Trump at 5 PM Moscow time (10 AM EDT) on Monday.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov explained that the conversation will take into account the outcomes of recent discussions between Russia and Ukraine held in Istanbul.
Trump’s Diplomatic Efforts in Ukraine
Welcome to the US Politics Live Blog. Today, Donald Trump is set to engage with both Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, aiming to halt what he refers to as the “bloodbath” war in Ukraine.
In a post on his Truth Social account, Trump indicated the subjects of his call will include stopping the conflict, which he claims results in an average of over 5,000 casualties of Ukrainian and Russian soldiers each week. He also mentioned trade, albeit without providing context for these figures.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that preparations for the call are underway. Following discussions with Putin, Trump will separately speak with Zelenskyy and NATO leaders as part of ongoing US efforts to resolve the conflict that began with the Russian invasion in 2022.
However, it remains uncertain what actionable outcomes could arise from Trump’s involvement in the peace talks, as prior talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul yielded little progress. Ukraine has expressed willingness for a ceasefire but faces unacceptable demands from Russia.
Other Noteworthy Updates
- Criticism Over Trump’s Aircraft Gift: Donald Trump’s acceptance of a $400 million Boeing jet from Qatar has drawn bipartisan criticism. Senator Chris Murphy labeled it as “the definition of corruption,” pointing to concerns surrounding the luxury gift amidst his recent trip to the Gulf.
- Legal Challenges: As Trump intensifies his scrutiny on legal firms and the Justice Department, some attorneys are responding by establishing their own practices to counteract funding cuts and administrative enforcement.
- Walmart and Tariffs: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that Walmart would absorb some tariffs, despite the company’s earlier announcement indicating price hikes due to international trade tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.
- Employment Rule Changes: Proposed changes making it easier to fire civil servants accused of undermining presidential directives could impact statisticians who provide economic data.
- Health Update on Joe Biden: Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has metastasized, and he’s evaluating treatment options. Trump expressed his concerns for Biden’s health.
- Government Debt Pressures: This week, US government debt may face renewed pressures following a downgrade in the nation’s credit rating by Moody’s.
