Trump's big bill advances in rare weekend vote, but conservatives demand
more changes
[May 19, 2025]
By KEVIN FREKING, LISA MASCARO and LEAH ASKARINAM
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans narrowly advanced President Donald
Trump's big tax cuts package out of a key committee during a rare Sunday
night vote, but just barely, as conservative holdouts are demanding
quicker cuts to Medicaid and green energy programs before giving their
full support.
Speaker Mike Johnson met with Republican lawmakers shortly before the
meeting and acknowledged to reporters that there are still details to
“iron out.” He said some changes were being made, but declined to
provide details.
It’s all setting up a difficult week ahead for the GOP leadership racing
toward a Memorial Day deadline, a week away, to pass the package from
the House. The Budget Committee, which just days ago failed to advance
the package when four conservative Republicans objected, was able to do
so Sunday on a vote of 17-16, with the four hold-outs voting “present”
to allow it to move ahead, as talks continue.
“The bill does not yet meet the moment,” said Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, a
leader of the House Freedom Caucus, in a social media post immediately
after the late-night session. “We can and must do better before we pass
the final product."
The path ahead for Johnson is unclear as he tries to hold his narrow
House majority together to pass the president's top domestic priority of
extending the tax breaks while pumping in money for border security and
deportations — all while cutting spending.
Republicans criticizing the measure argued that the bill’s new spending
and the tax cuts are front-loaded in the bill, while the measures to
offset the cost are back-loaded. In particular, they are looking to
speed up the new work requirements that Republicans want to enact for
able-bodied participants in Medicaid.
Johnson indicated he wants to impose the the work requirements “as soon
as possible” but acknowledged it may take states longer to change their
systems. Those requirements would not kick in until 2029 under the
current bill.
“There will be more details to iron out and several more to take care
of,” Johnson, R-La., said outside the hearing room.
“But I’m looking forward to very thoughtful discussions, very productive
discussions over the next few days, and I’m absolutely convinced we’re
going to get this in final form and pass it.”
More talks are ahead, but Johnson is looking to put the bill on the
House floor before the end of the week.
Democrats have decried the cuts Republicans are proposing to Medicaid
and food stamps to offset the costs of the tax breaks.
“This spending bill is terrible, and I think the American people know
that,” Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., told CNN’s “State of the Union″ on
Sunday. “There is nothing wrong with us bringing the government in
balance. But there is a problem when that balance comes on the back of
working men and women. And that’s what is happening here.”
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Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump
dances at a campaign event at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts
Centre, Oct. 15, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
The first time that Republicans tried advancing the bill out of the
House Budget Committee last week, the deficit hawks joined with
Democratic lawmakers in voting against reporting the measure to the
full House.
Those same four Republicans — Roy and Reps. Ralph Norman of South
Carolina, Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma and Rep. Andrew Clyde of Georgia
— cast their “present” votes Sunday.
Norman pointed to a recent downgrade of the nation’s credit rating
in making his arguments for steeper reductions.
“We’ve got a lot more work to do,” Norman said. “We’re excited about
what we did. We want to move the bill forward.”
At its core, the sprawling legislative package permanently extends
the existing income tax cuts that were approved during Trump’s first
term in 2017 and adds temporary new ones that the president
campaigned on in 2024, including no taxes on tips, overtime pay and
auto loan interest payments. The measure also proposes big spending
increases for border security and defense.
The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonpartisan fiscal
watchdog group, estimates that the House bill is shaping up to add
roughly $3.3 trillion to the debt over the next decade.
Johnson is not just having to address the concerns of the deficit
hawks in his party. He's also facing pressure from centrists who
will be warily eyeing the proposed changes to Medicaid, food
assistance programs and the rolling back of clean energy tax
credits. Republican lawmakers from New York and elsewhere are also
demanding a much larger state and local tax deduction.
As it stands, the bill proposes tripling what’s currently a $10,000
cap on the state and local tax deduction, increasing it to $30,000
for joint filers with incomes up to $400,000 a year.
Rep. Nick LaLota, one of the New York lawmakers leading the effort
to lift the cap, said they have proposed a deduction of $62,000 for
single filers and $124,000 for joint filers.
Rep. Jodey Arrington, the chairman of the House Budget Committee,
said the bill remained under negotiation.
“Deliberations continue at this very moment,” Arrington said. “They
will continue on into the week, and I suspect right up until the
time we put this big, beautiful bill on the floor of the House.”
If the bill passes the House this week, it would then move to the
Senate, where Republican lawmakers are also eyeing changes that
could make final passage in the House more difficult.
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