Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” Passes House Amid GOP Turmoil

President Donald Trump’s “one big beautiful bill” cleared the House early Thursday morning, facing significant backlash from some Republican members. It’s a noteworthy achievement considering the deep divisions within the House GOP.

This legislation is a sprawling multi-trillion dollar proposal aimed at advancing Trump’s priorities in areas such as taxes, immigration, energy, and defense. Republicans deliberated for over 48 hours on this bill, which was able to make it through the House Rules Committee just after daybreak on Thursday.

“It’s really American mornings again,” said Rep. Mike Johnson, suggesting the significance of this accomplishment. “What we’re achieving today is truly historic.”

Democrats Attempt Delays Amid GOP Discontent

Democrats were actively trying to stall the process by raising various procedural votes about amendments to this proposal, primarily aimed at significant Trump policies. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries spoke for over half an hour right before the vote, trying to extend the day of debate and voting.

“This bill signals a broken promise,” he argued on the House floor. “Last year, Republicans focused on lowering the cost of living, but costs continue to rise.”

The atmosphere became tense as lawmakers, clearly fatigued, engaged in ideological disputes as morning wore on. Rep. Steve Womack, hosting the session, cautioned Jeffries to avoid direct attacks on Republicans.

“Each interruption just extends my speaking time,” Jeffries retorted as Democrats rallied around him.

The bill seeks to permanently extend Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, implementing new promises like eliminating tip taxes and raising tax credits for seniors for the next four years.

Increased Spending with Medicaid Cuts

The legislation also allocates new funds for border security and defense, including $25 billion earmarked for a “Golden Dome” defense project. However, it aims to lessen the federal spending trajectory by cutting approximately $1.5 trillion in other areas. The U.S. currently carries a debt of over $36 trillion.

The proposed cuts include stricter work requirements for Medicaid beneficiaries and increased cost-sharing for states with expanded Affordable Care Act Medicaid registrations. It also attempts to roll back several green energy tax incentives introduced by the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act.

Additionally, the bill plans to reduce the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by roughly 20%, imposing new requirements on those eligible for food assistance.

All House Democrats voted against the bill, accusing the GOP of favoring the wealthy at the expense of working Americans. Still, Republicans argue that this tax cut will prevent a major increase next year if the TCJA is allowed to expire.

Ongoing Tension in the GOP

While most Republican lawmakers eventually came together to support the bill, there was evident tension leading up to the final vote. Some conservatives sought stricter measures on Medicaid and green energy spending, while more moderate Republicans wanted to protect tax cuts for working families.

To address these divides, GOP leaders made last-minute changes to Trump’s bill, including banning federal funds for transgender healthcare and establishing a new fund to counteract previous policies from the Biden administration.

Fiscal conservatives were heard, pushing for quicker implementation of work requirements for certain Medicaid participants. The original requirements were set to roll in by 2029.

Rep. Chip Roy voiced uncertainty about the bill’s ultimate efficacy, suggesting that executive actions could modify the Medicaid expansion concerns.

Moreover, adjustments were made to satisfy Blue State Republicans, who are advocating for higher caps on state and local tax deductions, aiming to raise it significantly from the current $10,000 limit.

“This reflects true leadership. Trump and House Republicans committed to safeguarding borders, supporting the elderly, and cutting taxes,” remarked Rep. Randy Feenstra.

Next Steps for the Legislation

However, the journey for Trump’s bill isn’t over yet. Senate Republicans have indicated they’d like to make amendments to the legislation upon its arrival in the upper chamber, contradicting House GOP leaders’ wishes for minimal changes.

Some senators are wary of the proposed cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, which may trigger further debates. The House and Senate must approve identical versions of the bill before it reaches Trump for signature, with GOP leaders aiming for final passage by July 4th.