Senate Republicans are pushing forward with a new version of President Donald Trump’s major health care bill, which aims to reform Medicaid. This effort comes as lawmakers scramble to finalize the legislation before the July 4 deadline.
Senator Lindsey Graham, who chairs the Senate Budget Committee, unveiled the bill late Friday night. It combines elements from ten different Senate committees, reflecting a month of intense negotiations to reshape the House GOP’s original proposal. With the bill now introduced, it must clear a procedural hurdle to kick off the countdown to a final vote.
Senate Republicans left a lunch meeting on Friday optimistic that they could hold a vote as soon as Saturday. Senator John Kennedy from Louisiana urged Senate Majority Leader John Thune to bring the bill to the floor for a vote, suggesting that those unhappy with the process should express their concerns later. He emphasized the need to start voting.
However, the path to passing this legislation is not without challenges. Some Senate Republicans are eager to make changes to the House version, which could complicate the bill’s chances of success. Thune remains committed to delivering the final product to Trump by Independence Day. When asked if he had enough support, he replied that they would find out soon.
The bill has faced scrutiny not only from lawmakers but also from the Senate parliamentarian, who ruled that several GOP proposals did not comply with Senate rules. Any provision included in the bill must adhere to the Byrd Rule, which governs how budget reconciliation works and allows the majority party to pass legislation without needing 60 votes to overcome a filibuster.
As discussions continue, lawmakers are revisiting various policy aspects, including the Medicaid provider tax rate and food benefit cost-sharing. A $25 billion fund for rural hospitals has been added to the legislation to address concerns that changes to the tax rate could threaten these facilities.
Negotiations are ongoing regarding the caps on state and local tax deductions (SALT). A potential compromise has emerged that would maintain a $40,000 cap for five years before reverting to $10,000. Senator Markwayne Mullin from Oklahoma has been mediating these discussions, but he admitted that not everyone is thrilled with the current proposals.
Despite the hurdles, Republican leaders are determined to see the bill through. They believe that some lawmakers may ultimately support the legislation under pressure from the White House and the desire to leave Washington for a break.
Once the motion to proceed is passed, which requires a simple majority, lawmakers will enter a 20-hour debate. Democrats are expected to use their time fully, while Republicans may finish quicker. Following the debate, a "vote-a-rama" will allow for numerous amendments, likely extending the process further.
If the bill passes in the Senate, it will return to the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson will need to rally support among his members. The legislation barely advanced last month, passing by just one vote.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has emphasized the importance of passing this bill on time, stating that it would provide businesses with much-needed certainty amid economic challenges. He believes that having the legislation on Trump’s desk by July 4 could boost the economy in the coming months.