Senate Problems Proliferate for Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and other Senate negotiators are facing mounting challenges in their effort to pass legislation implementing President Trump’s agenda by July 4. Republican senators are raising concerns about various aspects of the bill, including spending cuts for Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), deficit reduction, and corporate tax cuts.
Some Republican senators are objecting to the potential reduction in Medicaid benefits, while budget hawks are demanding more significant deficit reduction. The proposal to lift the cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions has also sparked controversy. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has announced his intention to vote against the bill due to the $4 trillion increase in the debt ceiling it includes.
Medicaid Concerns
Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) have expressed concerns about potential Medicaid benefit cuts. The Congressional Budget Office has projected that 10.9 million Americans could lose health insurance if the bill passes due to changes to Medicaid and Affordable Care Act coverage.
SNAP Spending Cuts
Several Senate Republicans are also raising concerns over projected $267 billion in spending cuts to SNAP. Collins and Moran have expressed their worries about the impact on constituents.
Deficit Reduction Demands
A growing number of Republicans are joining Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) in calling for more substantial spending cuts in the bill. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), chairman of the Budget Committee, has stated that the bill needs to be more fiscally responsible.
Controversial Proposals
The proposal to root out over $200 billion in ‘waste, fraud, and abuse’ in Medicare is another contentious issue. While some senators support this measure, others, like Hawley, consider it ‘insane’ to cut Medicare.
Corporate Tax Cuts
There is disagreement between Senate Republicans and the Trump White House over making corporate tax breaks permanent. The House bill phases out some popular corporate tax cuts after 2029, but Senate Republicans are pushing to make them permanent.
SALT Deductions
Republican senators are also planning to rewrite the House deal on SALT deductions, which they believe is too generous. They aim to lower the cap from $40,000 to a more acceptable level.
These challenges threaten to derail the Senate bill, and negotiators are working to address these issues before the July 4 deadline.
