The Senate’s take on the “big and beautiful bill” is facing significant challenges, with at least six House Republicans expressing opposition to the framework.
As GOP leaders navigate a slim majority, these six anonymous House Republicans are resistant enough to potentially derail the package. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who was one of two GOP members against the House version of the bill last month, might also resist the Senate’s iteration, adding to the ongoing pushback in the House.
If Democrats stand united, the Republicans find themselves needing to contend with a shrinking margin, having already lost three votes, and they still need time to move the legislation forward.
“We back reasonable parts of HR 1 that secure Medicaid’s long-term health and ensure it continues to aid vulnerable populations, but we can’t support a final bill that cuts crucial funding relied on by our hospitals,” one GOP member commented.
“It was clear when former President Trump called for an end to waste without slashing Medicaid. I completely agree,” he added. “I urge my Senate colleagues to maintain the Medicaid provisions of HR 1. Otherwise, I’ll have to vote against it.”
Rep. Jeff Van Drew (RN.J.) has also voiced his objections, particularly regarding the Medicaid provider tax. Rep. Young Kim (R-Calif) has indicated her opposition to the legislation due to rollbacks in Medicaid, solar energy credibility, and public land regulations.
Rep. Nick Lalota (RN.Y.) expressed his resistance to the package, focusing on the proposed cap on state and local tax (SALT) credits. The legislation seeks to increase the current $10,000 SALT cap to $40,000 for individuals earning under $500,000 for five years before reverting to the original limit.
“I can’t support critiquing the unfair $10K SALT cap while having supported the president’s broader agenda for years,” said Lalota. “A permanent $40k deduction cap for single filers with a threshold of $450,000 for joint filers, that would earn my support.”
Yet, it’s not just the moderates who are key to the Senate bill’s fate. There’s been some dissatisfaction about the overall packaging of the bill.
“I won’t negotiate through public channels. But before we finalize anything that could drastically affect our fiscal landscape, we need to be clear about our stance on the bill,” a GOP senator remarked.
As the Senate Republicans inch closer to the first vote on the “big beautiful bill,” it remains uncertain whether their leader can gather enough support to proceed.
Should the motion pass with just a simple majority, there will be numerous opportunities for amendments that could alter the final measures. Senate GOP leaders continue to engage with holdouts and may modify the current draft.
Meanwhile, House Republicans have begun reviewing updated Senate texts released overnight but have shown some reluctance regarding the measure, raising concerns about the ability of top GOP leaders to pass the bill for their July 4th memo.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) held a conference call Saturday, urging lawmakers to address their concerns about the Senate bill directly with their Senate counterparts and the White House, according to various sources.
Senate Majority Leader Steve Scullies (R-La.) mentioned that he may return to Washington on Monday, with Tuesday or Wednesday being more realistic timelines.
The primary concern among House Republicans seems to center on the bill’s Medicaid language. The Senate version proposes to cap provider taxes at 3.5% by 2031, with a gradual decline starting in 2027. However, Senate Republicans adjusted the wording overnight, postponing the implementation to 2028. They’ve also included a $25 billion Rural Hospital Relief Fund spread over five years to address these worries.
Nevertheless, this update hasn’t quelled all dissent within the GOP, and House Republicans remain troubled by the Medicaid provisions.
Additionally, the reduction in the Senate bill’s Green Energy Tax Credit has created further friction among some House Republicans. The revised regulations cut back on tax incentives for wind and solar energy projects while imposing new taxes on future developments.
Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) acknowledged his disappointment with both the Medicaid and Green Energy Tax Credit sections of the bill, although he hasn’t decided how he will vote.
“Rather than making improvements, it feels like the House legislation has retreated in these areas,” he remarked.
