Posted on 07/01/2025 9:22:56 AM PDT by lightman
After a marathon vote-a-rama that lasted more than 24 hours, where both Republicans and Democrats submitted amendments to the One Big Beautiful Bill, the Senate voted 51-50 to pass the megabill after Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) had announced a deal had been reached earlier on Tuesday. Vice President JD Vance was there to break the tie on the bill's final passage and on amendments being voted on up until the last minute.
All Democrats voted against the bill, as did Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Susan Collins (R-ME). Tillis made headlines over the weekend not only for his opposition to advancing the bill on Saturday, but his Sunday announcement he would be retiring.
Trump had urged lawmakers early Tuesday morning to bring the measure across the finish line, as the OBBB “gives the largest Tax Cuts and Border Security ever, Jobs by the Millions, Military/Vets increases, and so much more,” while cautioning that failure to pass the bill would result in a “whopping 68% Tax increase, the largest in history!!!”
Trump’s message came after the White House spent Monday making a final push for its passage during a White House event, online, and in the media, emphasizing the bill is the only chance Republicans have to enact the president's domestic agenda and spending priorities. Recommended Need to Run From an Alligator? Trump Has Advice for That Katie Pavlich
With a narrow majority in the upper chamber, Republicans could only afford to lose three GOP senators. With that opposition from Tillis and Paul, Thune turned his attention to Sen. Lisa Murkowski early Tuesday morning. She ultimately went along with most of her Republican colleagues to vote for the bill.
The Alaska senator has been the subject of an intense whip effort by GOP leaders over the past couple of hours as they try to offer her reassurances on Medicaid and food assistance. Thune, Finance Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso talked to Murkowski on the floor for roughly an hour overnight. Thune and Murkowski huddled briefly in his office, and they were mum on details when they emerged shortly before 4 a.m. Just moments ago, the Senate parliamentarian ruled that proposed SNAP carve-outs for Alaska and other states are compliant with the Byrd rule. But Republicans have struggled to get approval for a Medicaid provision also aimed at Murkowski’s home state. […]
In a potential sign of just how dire Thune’s whip count was looking in the wee hours, the majority leader huddled in his office with Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who’s long said he would be a “no” on the bill over its debt-ceiling hike. (Politico)
Though the OBBB narrowly passed, the bill will face headwinds in the House, with Rep. Greg Steube of Florida cautioning passage will be a challenge, since Republicans in the lower chamber can only afford to lose three votes.
“You’ve got 218 you got to get to, we can only lose three, if we lose four the bill’s dead, and you’ve got things in here that moderates don’t like, and you’ve got things in here that conservatives don’t like. So, it is certainly going to be a challenge," he said.
The Rapid Response 47 X account posted over X shortly after Vance cast the tie-breaking vote, noting that they're thus "moving it back to the House and one step closer to President Trump's desk."
Surprised and thankful that Murkowski voted for it!
She strikes me as being easy to influence.
Wait...so work requirements for SNAP are WAIVED for Alaska? Wow.
Thune must have given Alaska some pork.
OK ... it passed. Great. I guess.
Better be an end to people throwing crap at Reagan, because he signed crappy legislation it was the best that could be done with creeps like “Tip” O’Neill running Congress.
The only way this passes s for the House to adopt the Senate version. Trump may have to do some strong talking to make that happen. Any changes by he House will probably kill the bill in the Senate.
“”All Democrats voted against the bill, as did Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Susan Collins (R-ME)””
So Kid Rand voted for a massive tax increase.
Alaska fishermen got some tax breaks apparently.
Thanks for posting.
How did those geezers stay vertical all that time?
Wonders if they snagged some tips from a B2 Spirit pilot or two.
It’s not what we wanted, and we were surely betrayed on the NFA issues, but on balance, it’s a win.
Take the W, and keep demanding that the R’s come through with their promises, and primary the RINOs.
It’s politics, the art of the possible.
That he did.
I hesitate to characterize them as a threesome because such a term takes me to a place no decent human being would ever want to imagine.
That said the Senate is a snake pit and no better example than those three.
Rand Paul is still a fool, but now he’s a fool with no integrity.
Senator Blackburn of Tennessee amended the bill to remove the AI provision.
No reason to be surprised, as she was bribed with a little pork for her state
https://classroom.synonym.com/10-stages-bill-takes-moves-through-congress-6784.html
“If there are significant differences between versions of a bill passed in both houses, a bicameral conference committee attempts to reconcile the differences between House and Senate versions — the two houses must approve identical versions. A report with the committee members’ requests for changes is given to both the House and Senate for approval. If they do not agree on approval, the bill dies.”
The bill has been gutted, they offer crumbs and call it a feast.
I suspect Rand is part of a deal to keep the vote as close as possible... 51-50, to up the pressure on the House to accept the Senate changes. Rand is in no danger of losing his seat in Kentucky.
So, they let him make his debt declarations, to help his brand, and pass the bill anyway.
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