Senate Reads Entire Trump Budget Bill on the Floor
Senate Democrats’ delay tactics seem to have come to an end, but Senate Republicans are still in the process of voting on President Donald Trump’s extensive budget proposal, often referred to as the “big, beautiful bill.”
Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader from New York, required the entire Senate version of Trump’s legislation to be read aloud on Saturday. The reading of this substantial 940-page document stretched over Sunday, taking approximately 16 hours.
Senate Republicans have managed to advance Trump’s budget proposal through critical test votes, despite the dramatic procedural hurdles. Schumer asserted that he would compel the clerk to read the bill fully, stating, “Republicans are wriggling.” This tactical maneuver is part of a broader strategy by Schumer and Senate Democrats, aimed at drawing attention to Republican reluctance to engage thoroughly with the President’s agenda.
“We’re going to make them because we know so well that they haven’t read the bill,” Schumer added, emphasizing his point.
The last time a senator was forced to read a bill aloud dates back to 2021, when Ron Johnson, a Republican from Wisconsin, insisted that the American Rescue Act be read aloud. Now, with that stage behind them, lawmakers are gearing up for 20 hours of debate, split evenly between both parties. Democrats are expected to use their time efficiently, while Republicans will likely spend only a few hours discussing it.
This limited time for GOP senators will likely be filled by those already skeptical of the bill, like Senator Rand Paul from Kentucky, whose support for its passage is uncertain. Meanwhile, Senate majority leaders have their own challenges to consider.
Key Republican Senators are facing pressures regarding pivotal votes tied to Trump’s budget proposal. For instance, Senator Thom Tillis from North Carolina appears unyielding in his stance against the bill, despite social media criticism from Trump, unless significant alterations are made regarding Medicaid provisions.
All the while, Senate Republicans, apart from the Finance Hawks, are generally opposed to any drastic cuts in what they see as a substantial legislative package. The upcoming discussions surrounding the Federal Medical Assistance Rate (FMAP) could further complicate matters, with looming disagreements likely to highlight divisions within the party.
