GOP Budget Bill Passes House After Last-Minute Changes to Appease Holdouts

Budget Bill Passage in the House

• 🗳️ The House narrowly passed the GOP budget bill with a vote of 215 to 214, with only two Republican members defecting.
• 🗣️ Speaker Mike Johnson aims to have the bill sent to President Trump's desk by July 4th, envisioning a "new golden age in America."

Key Amendments to Secure Votes

• 💰 State and Local Tax (SALT) Deduction: The limit was raised from $10,000 to $40,000 to appease moderate Republicans from high-tax states.
• 🏥 Medicaid Work Requirements: The phase-in for new work requirements for Medicaid recipients was accelerated, addressing concerns from conservative members.

Challenges Ahead in the Senate

• ⚠️ Senate Republicans have significant issues with the bill, including spending cut levels and the SALT deduction.
• ⚖️ Senator Josh Hawley has expressed concerns that the Medicaid cuts are too deep.
• ⏳ The timeline for passage is tight, with potential delays pushing the signing into mid or late July.

Reconciliation Process and Senate Numbers

• ⚙️ The bill is proceeding through a reconciliation process, which bypasses the need for Democratic votes and avoids a filibuster.
• 🤝 However, the GOP still requires unanimous Republican support in the Senate, and several members have expressed opposition, indicating further changes are likely.