Another hurdle has been cleared.
In a rare Saturday night session, the U.S. Senate voted to advance President Donald Trump’s sweeping legislative proposal, often referred to as the “Big, Beautiful Bill.” The motion to proceed passed narrowly, 51–49, marking a key procedural step that now allows debate and amendments to begin, with the first votes expected late Monday.
This legislation encapsulates several of Trump’s major policy goals, including immigration reform, enhanced border security, energy initiatives, defense spending, and significant tax changes—such as extending the 2017 tax cuts and exempting tips and overtime pay from taxation. The vote was a significant win for both President Trump and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), who, along with Vice President JD Vance, played a central role in negotiating with skeptical conservatives.
Despite Republican control, not all members of the party supported the bill. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) opposed it due to concerns about Medicaid changes potentially harming rural hospitals, a criticism amplified by progressive advocacy groups. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) also dissented, citing insufficient reductions to mandatory federal spending. Notably, Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) initially voted no but later flipped to support the measure after a late-hour negotiation with Senate leaders and fellow conservatives Mike Lee (R-UT), Rick Scott (R-FL), and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY).
Though the bill cleared this hurdle, more negotiations lie ahead. Some Republican senators, including Susan Collins (R-ME), supported the motion to proceed but indicated further amendments were necessary to secure their final votes. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) gave her support after securing provisions beneficial to Alaska. In anticipation of lengthy floor action, Senate rules mandate at least 12 hours of debate before voting on amendments, while Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) plans to delay progress by requiring a full reading of the bill, which could take over 15 hours.
With the July 4 deadline approaching, Republican leaders in the House are encouraging members to unify and direct concerns internally rather than publicly. Should the Senate pass the bill on schedule, the House would likely vote by Thursday. If successful, the bill’s passage could deliver a timely win for President Trump and provide Republicans with a major legislative achievement to tout in the upcoming midterms.
