WASHINGTON (States Newsroom) – Majority Leader John Thune described the timeframe as aspirational, but it looks like U.S. Senate Republicans are prepared to take an initial vote on their big, beautiful package as early as Saturday, setting up ultimate approval within a few days.
For weeks, GOP senators have been negotiating the comprehensive tax and spending cuts package, making sure the hundreds of components fulfill the intricate requirements for crafting a reconciliation bill and can secure the necessary support to become law.
Thune stated Friday afternoon that we are still looking into our options on all of the unresolved issues. However, before their first procedural vote at noon Eastern on Saturday, a number of Republican senators told reporters they anticipate to read the final bill text, maybe by Friday night, after a more than two-hour closed-door working lunch.
However, there was no scheduled vote when the Senate adjourned on Friday night, and its next meeting was set for 2 p.m. Eastern.
Throughout Friday, Republicans continued to back and forth with the Senate lawmaker, trying to rewrite a number of policy changes that she determined did not comply with the requirements for a reconciliation package.
Republicans can circumvent the Senate’s 60-vote legislative filibuster by using the special legislative process, but the successful policy proposals must impact federal spending, revenues, or the debt ceiling.
There were still a number of unresolved disagreements among Republican senators on the precise format of the bill. Republicans may publicly split on problems pertaining to Medicaid, taxation, and a number of other topics if those are not settled before the amendment discussion starts.
Public lands, Medicaid provider tax
Sen. Steve Daines of Montana stated that he is still awaiting word on whether the lawmaker will accept a new proposal from Sen. Mike Lee of Utah that would result in the sale of some public lands.
Daines declined to comment on whether, should the wording appear in the final package, he would propose an amendment to remove it from the law.
He must first include it in the bill. According to Daines, it’s purely speculative at this point. I believe there is some difficulty in passing the parl. That, in my opinion, is the most likely scenario.
Sen. John Hoeven of North Dakota stated that he thinks Republicans have revised the language to adjust the highest percentage at which states can determine their Medicaid provider tax rate. The lawmaker opposed an earlier proposal that gradually lowered the rate from 6% to 3.5%.
Yes, we believe we have it fixed. It’s similar to several of these problems. We believe we got it resolved. Hoeven stated, “We don’t have the last say.” That’s what we discussed previously. We anticipate having the last say on this by today’s end, allowing us to begin tomorrow.
Normally seen as a minor detail, the Medicaid provider tax rate has become a key point of contention within the Republican Party due to significant worries about the impact of changes on rural health care systems.
It’s also possible that Republicans reached a consensus on a final amount for a rural hospital fund that would help mitigate the effects of the bill’s Medicaid reforms. Hoeven did not specify the compromise, although that figure is probably going to be greater than the $15 billion that was previously proposed.
$15 billion is the amount that you have all seen. “It will be more significant than that,” Hoeven stated. However, I do not yet have an exact number.
Senator Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, has been advocating for that fund to be at least $100 billion.
SALT talks
According to Hoeven, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., pushed for a five-year, $40,000 cap on state and local tax deductions, or SALT, over the meal. The relatively arcane matter is also important for the Senate bill to return to the House, where Republican legislators from states with higher taxes have been insistent that the bill must benefit their constituents.
According to Hoeven, the objective is for Republicans to come to a final consensus and approve those modifications with the lawmaker so that the Senate can vote on the bill procedurally on Saturday at noon.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma stated that he believes a final agreement on the state and local tax deduction is imminent between both houses.
“I think we’re getting close,” Mullin said, refusing to provide specific figures, “but we still have some talking to do in the Senate.”
According to him, senators intend to hold the procedural vote on Saturday at noon, which will set up a voting session for amendments that might start later that day or early on Sunday and run up to 12 hours.
Mullin stated that the idea of beginning it earlier in the morning rather than in the middle of the night is being discussed. Who knows, then?
Since the House’s 72-hour limit begins to expire after the Senate’s bill text is made public, not after the Senate passes it, the bill may pass the House soon after the Senate passes its version of the package.
I’m putting on my House side cap. Mullin stated that since we are changing the bill that has already been released, the 72-hour rule might not even need to be used in this case. However, I believe Speaker Johnson wants to allow enough time to review it, which would be a 72-hour regulation anyhow.
Artificial intelligence
Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas added that he anticipates the chamber will have the procedural vote on Saturday at noon.
Cruz said he was certain that a clause in his committee’s bill that forbids state and local governments from regulating AI if they wish to take part in a $500 million fund would stand up against a potential floor amendment.
Cruz seemed to dismiss weeks of criticism from other Republican senators when he stated, “The provision is in the bill and I believe it will be in the final bill that passes.”
Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio expressed optimism that the package might be passed by both chambers prior to the party’s self-imposed deadline of July 4th.
Look, we will be in good shape by the end of the day. Moreno declared, “We’re going to get a bill across the finish line.” Although cooking sausages can be unsightly, the finished product tastes great.
Sen. Ron Johnson was not as cheerful as some of his colleagues; after the closed-door lunch ended, he stormed up the steps just outside, refusing to talk to reporters.
The Wisconsin Republican remarked, “Notice, I’m not really wanting (to) talk right now.”
He urged a sizable contingent of reporters to return downstairs.
Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican from Iowa, responded, “There is no question about that; it’s going to be brought up” when asked about the scheduling of this weekend’s procedural vote.
Will the vice president be required for the final passage? “Grassley said.” He’s a Republican, which I appreciate, but we still need to pass it.
