The Senate successfully passed a large scale tax and spending bill on Tuesday, and now it is on the House where Republican still needs to remove obstacles within its party.
A martinez, host:
The Senate approved President Trump’s mega bill yesterday. Within a few minutes, we will hear from the main governor Janet Mills how she believes that it can affect residents in their state. But first, we have more information about what is in the latest version of the bill because it returns to the House.
Leela Fadle, Byline: Bill involves tax deduction and promotes border security and defense programs. After the vote here, the leader of the Senate’s majority is John Thune.
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John Theun: With this law, we are completing the mandate assigned to last November and our country and American people were determined to be safe, strong and more prosperous.
Fadel: But it is expected to add $ 3.3 trillion to the US budget deficit via 2034. The House is planning to vote today as Republicans try to get the package at the President’s desk by July 4.
MartÃnez: NPR Congress correspondent Deirdre Walsh is now here. So, Deirdre, Senate GOP leaders finally get this on the finish line?
Deirdre Walsh, Byline: You know, it actually came down to the wire. Vice President JD Vance had to break a tie to pass it. The GOP leaders can lose only three votes – and they did it. Susan Colins of Main, Rand Paul of Kentki and Thom Tilis of North Carolina did not vote. Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski was the decisive vote. He supported the tax deduction in this bill. This 2017 trump makes tax deduction permanent, adding new temporary brakes such as no tax on tips or overtime. But Murkovsky raised major concerns about cuts in some expenses, especially cutting nutritional programs, and then about 1 trillion in the deduction of medicid. It is a low income, health care program for the elderly and the disabled. The bill combines the requirements of work and changes the tax provisions for those states that are influenced by how many states get from the federal government.
Martinez: So what did the leaders do to convince Senator Murkowski to vote?
Walsh: He doubled a fund to help rural hospitals from 25 to 50 billion in five years. He made changes to the targeted nutrition benefits to help Alaska. In addition, Mercovsky received a tax break for whalers. He said to the verdict. He said that he did not like the bill, but he said that he did what he thought helped Alaskans.
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Lisa Murkowski: I needed help. And I worked to get every day. And did I find everything I wanted? Absolutely not.
Martinez: All is well. So now home, deedre, will this house pass? I mean, they were targeting – what? – later today?
Walsh: Right. House speaker Mike Johnson cannot afford to lose more than three votes. He admitted that last night season is a factor. Flights were delayed and canceled last night as the members returned to DC for the expected vote today. Conservatives are threatening to vote because the bill, as you said, adds more to losses. Moderates oppose deep medicade cuts. But as we have seen earlier, the House Republican falls into the line behind Trump under pressure.
Martinez: Okay, but they are running to pass this bill. However, the public opinion poll, it is unpopular. So is this a political risk for all Republicans?
Walsh: This can actually be, you know. So far, the Republican message will be passed to the Congress to avoid tax growth, as this tax deduction ends at the end of this year. But this is actually a complex message. Most people will not see major changes in their salary, but many working class voters who vote for Trump may potentially lose their Medicade coverage. The President argues that it is useless, fraud and abuse that is being cut, but a nonpartison scorekeeper estimated that around 12 million people could lose their health care coverage. Democrats are already making the issue a central issue in the upcoming 2026 midterfams. They say that Republican campaigned on reducing costs, but the independent analysis of this bill found that the benefits of tax break are too large for those who work at high income levels and more than middle class people.
MartÃnez: This is the Diardre Walsh of NPR. Thank you very much.
Walsh: Thank you, A.
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