House begins work on Trump megabill, Johnson says vote could come Wednesday
The House of Representatives is gearing up to vote on President Donald Trump’s tax and immigration megabill after a nail-biter vote in the Senate. House Speaker Mike Johnson has indicated that a vote could take place as early as Wednesday.
The Senate approved Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” on Tuesday, with Vice President JD Vance breaking a tie to send the legislation to the House for consideration. Some GOP senators, including Thom Tillis, Rand Paul, and Susan Collins, voted against the measure, along with every Democrat, resulting in a 50-50 tie before Vance’s intervention.
The House Rules Committee passed the legislation early Wednesday with a 7-6 vote, and it is set to be debated on the floor after legislative business begins at 9 a.m. However, Trump’s bill is expected to face opposition in the House, particularly among fiscal hawks.
The Senate version of the bill includes approximately $4 trillion in tax cuts and new funding for border security, along with key Trump campaign promises such as no taxes on tips and overtime. It also rolls back Biden-era clean energy initiatives, cuts entitlement health programs like Medicaid and SNAP, and proposes lifting the cap on the state and local tax deduction to $40,000 from $10,000.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the Senate version would add around $1 trillion more to the deficit over the next decade compared to the House version passed in May. The CBO also projects that 11.8 million people could lose insurance due to cuts in Medicaid, a concern raised by several Senate Republican holdouts.
With a slim majority, Johnson can only afford three defections if all members are voting and present. Some members faced travel disruptions due to storms in the eastern U.S., but Johnson remains optimistic about holding a vote on Wednesday or Thursday.
The House will first debate and vote on the rule before moving to a final passage vote. The goal is to have the bill on Trump’s desk by July 4, according to Johnson and top Republican leaders.
Despite concerns raised by some House Republicans, Trump expressed confidence that the bill will pass smoothly. He dismissed the CBO’s projection of 11.8 million Americans losing insurance, claiming the number will be lower due to waste, fraud, and abuse.
The House process began with the Rules Committee approving the bill after lengthy discussions. GOP Reps. Ralph Norman and Chip Roy joined Democrats in voting against the measure in committee. Roy expressed concerns about the deficit and cost increases in the bill.
Majority Leader John Thune acknowledged potential hurdles in the House but emphasized the improvements made to the bill in the Senate. He remains hopeful that the House will find the necessary goals to pass the legislation.
In conclusion, the House is set to vote on Trump’s megabill, with expectations high for its passage despite potential challenges. The bill reflects Trump’s agenda and aims to deliver on key promises made during his campaign.
