House Sets Showdown Vote On Sweeping Trump Tax Package/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ House Republicans plan a decisive Wednesday vote on President Trump’s tax and spending bill after a razor-thin Senate win. Speaker Johnson faces deep GOP divisions, with moderates fearing Medicaid cuts and conservatives worried about fiscal impact. Democrats condemn the rush, warning the bill will balloon deficits while slashing safety nets for vulnerable Americans.
Quick Look
- Bill Details: $4.5 trillion tax cuts, new deductions for tips, seniors
- Senate Vote: Passed 51-50, VP Vance breaking tie
- House Challenge: GOP divisions, looming July 4th deadline
- Democrats: Fierce opposition, warn of deep social safety net cuts
- Political Stakes: High for Republicans defying Trump’s push
House Republicans Sprint Toward Final Vote on Trump’s Tax Bill, Daring Defections
Deep Look
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans are barreling toward a decisive Wednesday vote on President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax and spending bill, determined to capitalize on the Senate’s narrow approval while daring any holdouts to break ranks and challenge the party’s leader.
“The American people gave us a clear mandate, and after four years of Democrat failure, we intend to deliver without delay,” the top four House GOP leaders declared Tuesday, hours after the Senate passed the legislation 51-50 with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote.
But the path ahead remains fraught. Republicans have battled internal divisions at every stage of this massive package, often squeaking through votes by the slimmest margins. With a narrow 220-212 majority in the House, Speaker Mike Johnson has little room for defections.
Some lawmakers have bristled at the prospect of swiftly rubber-stamping the Senate’s version less than a day after its passage, especially given the last-minute changes demanded by Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska to secure her vote. Members from swing districts remain anxious about Medicaid cuts, while hardline conservatives have slammed the bill as falling short of true fiscal discipline.
Johnson and GOP leaders now face the formidable task of convincing wary lawmakers that the time for negotiations is over — and that crossing Trump could bring political ruin.
Trump Presses Republicans for Unity
At the heart of the legislation is a $4.5 trillion package of tax cuts extending and expanding breaks first passed during Trump’s first term, along with new deductions such as tax-free tips, overtime, and a $6,000 deduction for most older Americans.
The measure also steers $350 billion toward defense and border security initiatives central to Trump’s agenda. To offset some of the cost, Republicans propose cuts to Medicaid and food aid programs. Even so, the Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill will increase federal deficits by roughly $3.3 trillion over the next decade.
Trump took to social media to rally Republicans, warning them not to fracture party unity.
“We can have all of this right now, but only if the House GOP UNITES, ignores its occasional ‘GRANDSTANDERS’ (You know who you are!), and does the right thing, which is sending this Bill to my desk,” he wrote.
Political Stakes High for GOP Holdouts
Speaker Johnson, determined to meet Trump’s self-imposed July 4 deadline, is counting on the fear of political repercussions to keep hesitant Republicans in line.
Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina became a cautionary example over the weekend when he announced his opposition to the bill’s Medicaid cuts. Trump quickly called for a primary challenge, prompting Tillis to declare he would not seek reelection.
Other skeptics are facing similar threats, including Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who is already being targeted by Trump’s political machine for his opposition.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise dismissed the idea of any further changes to the bill, saying the House and Senate versions are already closely aligned.
“It’s not as easy as saying, ‘Hey, I just want one more change,’ because one more change could end up being what collapses the entire thing,” Scalise said.
Democrats Condemn Rush, Warn of Dire Consequences
Democrats have uniformly opposed the bill, calling it rushed and reckless. Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts condemned the accelerated timeline, saying: “We’re rushing not because the country demands it, but because he wants to throw himself another party. This isn’t policy. It’s ego management.”
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries warned the bill’s Medicaid cuts would leave vulnerable Americans without care, and described proposed changes to food assistance as “literally ripping the food out of the mouths of children, veterans and seniors.”
“House Democrats are going to do everything we can for the next few hours, today, tomorrow, for the balance of this week and beyond to stop this bill from ever becoming law,” Jeffries vowed.
Republicans counter that their changes aim to preserve social safety net programs for those truly in need and crack down on fraud. The bill imposes new 80-hour-per-month work requirements for many Medicaid recipients and tightens oversight on states with high payment error rates in food aid programs.
Despite the fierce opposition, Republicans say the looming expiration of the 2017 tax cuts makes passing the bill urgent. Senate Majority Leader John Thune argued it would mean “smaller tax bills and bigger paychecks for the American people — permanently.”
The nonpartisan Tax Policy Center estimates the legislation would deliver an average tax cut next year of $150 for the lowest-income Americans, $1,750 for middle earners, and nearly $11,000 for the wealthiest quintile — compared with what they’d pay if the 2017 tax cuts expire.
The House vote on Wednesday promises to be a defining moment not just for Trump’s second-term agenda but for the future of Republican unity heading into the next election cycle.
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