Republicans release updated Senate text ahead of megabill vote
Senate Republicans have released an updated version of President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” as they prepare for an upcoming vote, possibly as soon as Saturday. The new 940-page document includes revisions aimed at addressing concerns from both House and Senate members, including enhancements to the state and local tax (SALT) deduction and postponements on certain Medicaid reforms. Key changes include a maintained SALT cap of $40,000 for five years before reverting to $10,000, and a delay in new limits on the Medicaid provider tax, critical for state funding. Additionally, the bill includes a $25 billion stabilization fund to support rural hospitals affected by Medicaid changes.
Despite these adjustments, Republicans are still navigating internal divisions, particularly regarding the Medicaid provisions, which could threaten passage. Senate majority leader John Thune expressed uncertainty about securing the necessary votes for the bill. If the initial vote succeeds, the senate will engage in further debates and voting on amendments. The outcome remains uncertain, particularly as lawmakers continue to negotiate specific provisions of the bill.
Republicans release updated Senate text ahead of ‘big, beautiful bill’ vote
Senate Republicans released updated text for President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act late Friday as leaders raced to hold their first vote as soon as Saturday.
Shortly before midnight, the Senate Budget Committee unveiled 940 pages that account for the latest revisions to the sweeping bill, a hodgepodge of tax, border, and energy priorities. Republicans are still awaiting final rulings from the parliamentarian on the tax portion of the bill, but the text brings them one step closer to complying with the intricate rules of reconciliation, a filibuster-skirting budget process.
The text also incorporates changes meant to win over holdouts in both the House and Senate, including a more generous state and local tax deduction and a delay to some Medicaid reforms.
Senate Republicans telegraphed those changes as they left a Friday lunch meant to nail down the SALT language. Under the latest proposal, the cap would stay at $40,000 for five years, as negotiated in the House, before snapping back to $10,000, the current limit.
The updated legislation also delays new limits on the Medicaid provider tax, which helps states pay for their share of the entitlement, by a year. Many conservatives criticize the use of the taxes as a way to inflate the federal government’s share of costs.
The text also revealed new compromises, including a $25 billion stabilization fund meant to blunt the impact of Medicaid changes on rural hospitals. The Senate Finance Committee floated a $15 billion fund on Wednesday that was swiftly rejected by centrist members of the conference.
Those changes may not be enough to secure passage of the bill. With or without a rural hospital fund, Republicans were threatening to withhold their vote unless Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) reverted to the House language on the Medicaid provider tax. The Senate phases in a cap of 3.5% for expansion states, while the House passed a more modest freeze.
On Friday afternoon, Thune conceded that he may not yet have the 50 votes needed to advance the megabill, but the text’s release allows him to stay on track for a Saturday test vote. If he is successful, the Senate would then debate the measure for at least 10 hours before a marathon voting session on amendments that would likely finish on Sunday.
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Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), a bill holdout with concerns over Medicaid, told the Washington Examiner that she plans to offer amendments on the floor depending on where the final text lands. Other Republicans have indicated the same, teeing up what could be a series of tough votes for leadership to keep their delicate compromise intact.
Until then, Thune and his committee chairs are attempting to minimize disruption on the Senate floor, with rolling negotiations on the remaining sticking points. On Friday night, Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), the chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, released an updated proposal to sell off public lands after complaints from the Montana delegation.
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