Hakeem Jeffries Uses ‘Magic Minute’ To Delay Vote on Trump’s Megabill/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries delayed a House vote on Trump’s massive tax and spending bill using his “magic minute” floor privilege. Speaking for over six hours, he condemned cuts to Medicaid and shared Americans’ stories. Speaker Mike Johnson plans brief remarks before proceeding to a final vote.
Magic Minute Megabill Quick Look
- Hakeem Jeffries uses “magic minute” to delay vote
- Speaks over two hours attacking Medicaid cuts
- Trump’s first big legislative win hangs in balance
- Johnson promises short speech, final vote imminent
- Jeffries cites human impacts from proposed spending cuts
- Magic minute allows unlimited speaking time for leaders
- Trump megabill remains controversial among Democrats
- Vote outcome crucial for Trump’s second-term agenda
Jeffries Uses “Magic Minute” to Stall Vote on Trump’s Megabill
Deep Look
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Thursday launched a lengthy floor speech to delay a final vote on Republicans’ massive tax and spending bill, wielding a procedural tactic known as the “magic minute.” Speaking for over Six hours, he condemned cuts to Medicaid and shared Americans’ stories. Speaker Mike Johnson plans brief remarks before proceeding to a final vote.
“I will take my sweet time,” Jeffries declared, as he spoke for more than two hours, criticizing deep cuts to Medicaid included in the multi-trillion-dollar package. Throughout his speech, the New York Democrat shared personal stories from constituents around the country, underscoring the potential human impact of the proposed legislation.
Under House rules, party leaders are granted the “magic minute,” allowing them to speak for an unlimited time during debate.
Johnson told reporters earlier his own comments “will be much shorter than that, and we’ll proceed to a final vote, and we’ll be passing this bill.”
Passage of the legislation would mark President Donald Trump’s first major legislative victory of his second term.
Republican leadership spent much of the night and early morning persuading a handful of holdouts to support the Senate-approved tax cuts and spending bill. But now, House Speaker Mike Johnson appears to have the votes, and Democrats are standing in the way.
As the House wrapped up its debate over passing Trump’s agenda, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries used a tool known as the “magic minute” that allows leaders unlimited time to speak. He started his address just before 5 a.m. ET. And it’s still going.
“I’m going to take my time,” he said, before launching into a speech criticizing Republicans’ deference to Trump, reading through personal accounts of people concerned about losing their health care coverage, and recounting American history.
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