Senate Republicans are working to pass a comprehensive tax and immigration package, despite opposition from Democrats and some Republicans over concerns about the bill’s impact on Medicaid and the national debt.
The legislation would extend tax cuts passed in 2017, enact campaign promises such as no tax on tips, and spend hundreds of billions of dollars on deportation drives and national defense priorities. However, it also makes steep cuts to Medicaid and SNAP programs, which would add roughly $3.3 trillion to the national debt over 10 years.
Several Republican senators have expressed concerns about the bill’s deficit impact and budget cuts, including Sen. Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), who announced he would not seek reelection after failing to win changes to the bill to spare rural hospitals from funding cuts. Other lawmakers have warned that the provisions on Medicaid cuts risk going too far.
Despite these challenges, Senate leaders remain optimistic about getting the bill passed soon. However, a Washington Post-Ipsos poll found that Americans oppose the bill by an almost 2-to-1 margin, and 63% say the measure’s debt impact is “unacceptable.”
The House Freedom Caucus has expressed concerns that the Senate proposal violates the fiscal framework agreed upon earlier in the spring. Several senators have also spoken out against the bill, citing concerns about rural hospitals and Medicaid cuts.
With two more GOP votes needed to keep the bill afloat, Vice President JD Vance would be forced to break the tie if opposition grows. The package’s fate remains uncertain as lawmakers continue to debate its merits.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/06/29/trump-tax-bill-senate-debt