Trumps Big Beautiful Bill Survives GOP Civil War to Pass House
3 minute readPublished: Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 11:44 am
House Passes Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill" After GOP Infighting
In a nail-biting vote, the House of Representatives narrowly passed a bill championed by President Donald Trump, marking a significant legislative victory for Republicans. The vote, which concluded early Thursday morning, saw the bill squeak through with a 215-214 margin, highlighting the deep divisions within the GOP.
House Speaker Mike Johnson faced intense pressure from within his own party, with conservative factions, particularly the House Freedom Caucus, demanding changes to the legislation. Negotiations went down to the wire, with lawmakers engaging in marathon sit-downs to secure their votes. Ultimately, Johnson managed to corral enough support to bring the bill to a vote before the Memorial Day weekend recess.
The bill, which includes provisions related to domestic spending, border security, and tax cuts, underwent several revisions during the negotiation process. These included adjustments to Medicaid work requirements, a boost to the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap, and extensions of tax provisions from Trump's 2017 tax law. The legislation also allocates $350 billion for national defense and border security.
However, the bill is not without controversy. Nonpartisan analysis suggests the bill could significantly impact the national debt, with estimates ranging from a $3.8 trillion increase over ten years. Democrats unanimously opposed the bill, criticizing it as a giveaway to the wealthy at the expense of vulnerable populations. The bill also includes reforms to Medicaid and SNAP, which could lead to millions losing their insurance coverage.
The legislation now faces an uphill battle in the Senate, where it is expected to undergo further revisions. Republican senators have already expressed concerns about the House version's Medicaid provisions, tax cuts, and potential impact on the deficit.
BNN's Perspective: This bill reflects the ongoing struggle within the Republican party to balance fiscal conservatism with the political demands of their base. While the bill's passage in the House is a win for Trump and Johnson, its ultimate fate in the Senate remains uncertain. The potential impact on the national debt and social programs raises serious concerns, and the final version will likely be a compromise that leaves both sides somewhat dissatisfied.
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