The House of Representatives is poised for a critical vote on Tuesday on a sweeping budget plan championed by former President Donald Trump, who has dubbed it a “big, beautiful bill.” However, the legislation faces significant hurdles as Republicans grapple with internal divisions over spending cuts and the broader implications of the proposal.
With a razor-thin majority in the House, Republican leaders are working to secure enough votes to pass the bill, which aims to advance Trump’s legislative agenda.
The plan includes extending Trump-era tax cuts, allocating $300 billion for border security and defense, and implementing up to $2 trillion in spending cuts. Yet, the lack of specific details on where those cuts will fall has left some lawmakers uneasy.
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Oklahoma Republican Congressman Tom Cole has warned that the bill may not have the votes to pass, raising the possibility that lawmakers will need to approve a stopgap funding measure to avoid a government shutdown. “It’s increasingly likely that we’ll need a short-term solution to keep the government funded into the fall,” Cole told reporters.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, acknowledging the high stakes of the vote, jokingly asked for prayers during ongoing negotiations. “This is a prayer request. Just pray for us. It’s very high stakes, and everybody knows that,” Johnson said.
The bill’s fate hinges on the support of nearly every House Republican, as Speaker Johnson can afford to lose only one GOP vote if all Democrats oppose the plan. With as many as 10 Republicans reportedly hesitant to back the bill, the vote is shaping up to be a loyalty test for Trump’s agenda.
The House budget plan seeks to fulfill several key campaign promises made by Trump, including:
- Extending Trump-Era Tax Cuts: The legislation would prevent the expiration of tax cuts enacted during Trump’s presidency, which are set to lapse at the end of the year.
- Boosting Border and Defense Spending: The bill allocates $300 billion in additional funding for border security and national defense.
- Implementing Spending Cuts: The plan calls for up to $2 trillion in spending reductions, though it does not specify which programs or agencies would be affected.
- Raising the Debt Limit: The legislation includes a provision to increase the federal debt ceiling, averting a potential default.
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House Democrats, led by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, have united in opposition to the bill, criticizing its focus on extending tax cuts they argue primarily benefit wealthy Americans.
While Democrats have not proposed an alternative budget plan, they are working on a temporary funding measure to prevent a government shutdown ahead of the March 14 deadline.
Jeffries has called on all House Democrats to gather outside the Capitol ahead of the vote to voice their concerns.
If the bill fails to pass, Congress may need to pivot to a short-term funding measure to keep the government operational. Such a move would delay the broader debate over spending cuts and tax policy but could also buy time for further negotiations.
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