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Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ clears first House vote, but final passage in doubt

By and February 25, 2025 | updated 7 months ago

House Republicans successfully cleared their first hurdle for reconciliation on Tuesday afternoon after the entire conference voted to adopt the rule on the contentious budget resolution.

In a 217-211 vote, all Republicans voted in favor of the rule on the budget resolution, setting it up for a final passage on Tuesday night. However, a handful of Republicans have stated they will not support the resolution, placing the future of the measure in doubt.

Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY), Victoria Spartz (R-IN), Tim Burchett (R-TN), and Warren Davidson (R-OH) have told reporters over the last two days that they will vote “no” on the budget resolution, which unlocks the House’s preferred one-bill process for reconciliation. 

Massie and Spartz’s opposition to the resolution stems from how it handles deficit, while Davidson has insisted he needs reassurances and a plan for appropriations, a different process, before he’d vote for the resolution.

Eyes are also on other holdouts, including a handful of centrists who have raised concerns that the budget resolution will lead to drastic cuts to Medicaid and other beneficiary programs on which their constituents rely. However, several lawmakers coming out of a late-night Monday meeting and Tuesday’s weekly GOP conference meeting signaled they had softened their stance against the framework. 

On other previous controversial measures, some Republicans have voted for the rule but sank final passage — and with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) only able to lose a couple of votes based on Democratic attendance, the budget resolution could be put in jeopardy. Four Democrats were absent from the rule vote on Tuesday afternoon, with one Republican not voting at all.

HOLDOUTS PUT HOUSE BUDGET RESOLUTION IN JEOPARDY OVER SPENDING CUTS

Still, Johnson will not be able to rely on Democrats for any assistance. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and a large group of House Democrats stood outside the Capitol on Tuesday afternoon to protest the budget plan, repeating their messaging that the resolution would cut Medicaid spending for everyday Americans. Republicans have pointed out the budget blueprint doesn’t include any Medicaid spending cuts but just directs committees to find savings.

“Let me be clear: House Democrats will not provide a single vote to this reckless Republican budget,” Jeffries said. “Not one, not one, not one. They will not get a single Democratic vote.”

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