Jeffries Delaying Trump Bill Vote With 8+ Hours Marathon Speech/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ House Republicans pushed for a vote on Trump’s sweeping $4.5 trillion tax and spending bill, but Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries stalled proceedings with a marathon floor speech. The bill includes massive tax cuts and safety net reductions. Deep partisan divides threaten GOP efforts to pass the measure by July 4.
Quick Look
- Jeffries holds floor for over five hours.
- GOP aims to pass $4.5T tax, spending bill.
- Bill extends Trump’s 2017 tax cuts.
- Cuts $1.2T from Medicaid, food stamps.
- CBO: Bill adds $3.3T to national debt.
- Trump pressures Republicans to stay unified.
- Democrats call it a cruel giveaway to the rich.
House GOP Pushes to Finish Trump’s Mega-Bill, But Jeffries Slams Brakes with Marathon Speech
Deep Look
WASHINGTON (AP) — After an all-night push, House Republicans were ready Thursday to deliver President Donald Trump a signature victory by passing his sweeping $4.5 trillion tax cuts and spending bill. But House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries had other plans.
Instead of a final vote, the House floor became the stage for Jeffries’ marathon speech. Gripping the microphone for over eight hours—and counting—Jeffries used his “magic minute” privilege to stall proceedings, reading letters from Americans worried about health care cuts and hammering the GOP plan as a betrayal of the vulnerable.
“I never thought that I’d be on the House floor saying that this is a crime scene,” Jeffries said. “It’s a crime scene, going after the health, and the safety, and the well-being of the American people.”
His filibuster-style speech put him within striking distance of the record for the longest House leader address, set in 2021.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., pledged a much shorter speech of his own. “Our way is to plow through and get it done,” he said, vowing to meet Trump’s self-imposed July 4th deadline.
If passed, the 800-plus-page measure would secure Trump’s first major legislative win of his second term, solidifying the GOP’s dominance in Congress. But the deeply partisan fight has exposed fractures within the Republican ranks and fueled fierce Democratic resistance.
What’s In Trump’s Mega-Bill?
At the bill’s heart are extensions of Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, including new deductions for tips, overtime pay, and a $6,000 break for most seniors earning under $75,000.
The legislation also allocates $350 billion for national security and Trump’s immigration agenda, including development of a “Golden Dome” missile defense system over the U.S.
To offset lost tax revenue, Republicans propose $1.2 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and food stamps, largely through expanded work requirements affecting even some parents and older adults. The plan also rolls back many of President Joe Biden’s green energy investments.
The Congressional Budget Office projects the bill would add $3.3 trillion to the federal debt over the next decade and could leave 11.8 million more Americans without health coverage.
“This was a generational opportunity to deliver the most comprehensive and consequential set of conservative reforms in modern history, and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” said Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, who chairs the House Budget Committee.
Democrats Call It “Trickle-Down Cruelty”
Democrats remain unanimously opposed, denouncing the bill as a giveaway to the wealthy paid for by slashing support for vulnerable Americans.
“Have you no shame?” demanded Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee.
Jeffries described the cuts as devastating for millions relying on Medicaid and food assistance, saying they would “rip food from the mouths of hungry children, hungry veterans and hungry seniors.”
Political Pressure and Republican Discord
Even as the GOP fights to close ranks, cracks have appeared. Moderates worry about deep cuts, while hardliners push for even steeper reductions.
Trump himself turned up the heat overnight, raging online: “What are the Republicans waiting for??? What are you trying to prove???”
Johnson and White House officials have scrambled to appease holdouts, sometimes offering policy promises or projects for lawmakers’ districts. The political risks of defying Trump remain clear. Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina initially opposed the bill but soon announced he would not seek reelection after Trump’s camp targeted him.
Repealing Democratic Legacies
Beyond tax cuts, the bill aims to dismantle major parts of the Obama and Biden agendas, chipping away at Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act and scaling back Biden’s climate initiatives.
Republicans argue the tax breaks are crucial to prevent a looming tax hike and spur economic growth. They frame safety net cuts as overdue reforms aimed at waste and abuse, reserving aid for the most vulnerable.
According to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, the bill would give the lowest-income Americans an average tax break of $150 next year, $1,750 for middle-income households, and nearly $11,000 for the wealthiest fifth.
For now, though, the bill’s fate remains uncertain—as Jeffries and his fellow Democrats fight to keep the House floor theirs.
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