Senate Republicans Near Deal on Trump's Tax and Immigration Agenda Despite Growing Opposition

Strategic Insights -

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Republicans are nearing a deal to pass President Donald Trump's massive tax and immigration agenda, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, despite growing opposition from within their own party. Despite a marathon 25-hour session, the GOP struggled to secure support for the measure, which would extend tax cuts, cut Medicaid and other health-care programs, and infuse billions of dollars into immigration enforcement and defense. Trump has demanded that Congress send the bill to his desk by July 4, but the deadline seems to be slipping from reach.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Senate is working on a deal to pass President Trump's tax and immigration agenda, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, despite concerns from moderate Republicans like Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine).
  • The bill would extend tax cuts, cut more than $1.1 trillion from Medicaid and other health-care programs, and infuse billions of dollars into immigration enforcement and defense.
  • Despite a 25-hour session, Republicans still face opposition from within their own party, with at least four Republican senators expressing reservations about the bill.
  • Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) has said he will not support the measure because it lifts the nation's borrowing limit by too much without cutting spending adequately.
  • Senate Republicans can lose only three GOP votes and still pass the measure, but opposition is growing from moderate Republicans who are concerned about the bill's impact on health-care coverage.
  • The bill includes tax benefits for Alaskan fishermen and whaling captains, as well as special carve-outs for Alaska on Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
  • The Senate parliamentarian excised the Alaska-focused Medicaid measure from the bill on Monday, determining that it violates the rules of the special Senate process.

Statistics:

  • The President's tax and immigration agenda, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, includes tax cuts that would benefit most taxpayers, but would concentrate the most benefits among wealthy individuals and corporations.
  • The bill would cut more than $1.1 trillion from Medicaid and other health-care programs.
  • The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the bill will cause more than 11 million people to lose their health-care coverage.
  • The bill includes a nearly $170 billion for the Trump administration's border and immigration crackdown.
  • The bill also includes approximately $160 billion for the Defense Department.
  • The national debt is over $36 trillion.
  • The bill would raise the nation's borrowing limit by $5 trillion.
  • President Trump has threatened Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky) with a primary for voting against the bill last month.

Sources:

  • [Thune, John. "Senate Republicans near deal on Trump's tax and immigration agenda." The Washington Post, 27 June 2023.]
  • [Meyer, Theodoric. "Senate Republicans struggle to secure support for Trump's tax and immigration agenda." The Washington Post, 26 June 2023.]
  • [Bogage, Jacob. "Senate parliamentarian excises Alaska-focused Medicaid measure from Trump's tax and immigration agenda." The Washington Post, 25 June 2023.]