AT WHAT COST?

Trump’s ‘Beautiful Bill’ Clears Hurdle in Late-Night Vote

Mike Johnson managed to quell GOP dissent to get the proposal past a procedural obstacle.

Donald Trump’s so-called “big, beautiful” tax bill overcame a roadblock in the House late Sunday night, allowing it to advance amid a rebellion by Republican hardliners. Reps. Chip Roy, Andrew Clyde, Josh Brecheen, and Ralph Norman voted present at a House Budget Committee meeting on Sunday, after having voted no on Friday, allowing the vote to pass down party lines. The House Freedom Caucus, of which the four lawmakers are members, said in a statement after the vote that “while progress has been made” on advancing the bill, “it does not yet meet the moment.” It’s unclear what concessions House Speaker Mike Johnson made to the hard-right holdouts to get the vote over the line, but the GOP leader told reporters earlier on Sunday night that “minor modifications” had been made. Trump has called on Republicans to unite behind the controversial bill, which, among other measures, seeks to make cuts to Medicaid and invest more in border security. It now heads to the House Rules Committee, where it will need to pass in order to get to a House floor vote.