logo
Trump tax-cut bill faces rare overnight stress test with US House Republicans

Trump tax-cut bill faces rare overnight stress test with US House Republicans

Reuters21-05-2025
WASHINGTON, May 21 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's tax cut and spending bill faces a critical stress test on Wednesday as Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives try to overcome internal divisions about cuts to the Medicaid health program and tax breaks in high-cost coastal states.
The gate-keeping House Rules Committee has scheduled an unusual 1 a.m. ET (0500 GMT) hearing that is expected to run well into daylight hours where members will debate details of the measure. If passed by Congress, it would reduce some health and food benefits for low-income Americans, cancel green-energy programs and provide tens of billions of dollars for immigration enforcement.
Trump huddled with lawmakers on Tuesday to try to persuade holdouts within his party to get in line on what he calls a "big, beautiful bill," but the visit failed to sway the wide array of lawmakers who object to specific features.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has little room for error, as his party holds a narrow 220-213 majority and a handful of "no" votes from his side could scuttle the bill, which Democrats say favors the wealthy and cuts needed social programs.
Fiscal hawks blocked the package in another committee on Friday, before relenting late on Sunday night. That scenario could play out again in the Rules Committee, which includes several Republicans who are calling for deeper cuts to the Medicaid health program, which serves 71 million Americans.
The bill would extend the 2017 tax cuts that were Trump's signature first-term legislative achievement, and also add tax breaks on income from tips and overtime pay that were part of his populist push on the campaign trail. Nonpartisan analysts say it could add $3 trillion to $5 trillion to the federal government's $36.2 trillion in debt.
If it clears the committee, Johnson could push for a vote on the House floor as soon as Wednesday.
Medicaid has proven to be a major sticking point, with fiscal hawks pushing for cuts to partly offset the cost of the bill's tax components, which moderate Republicans say would hurt voters whose support they will need in the 2026 midterm elections.
The bill also faces objections from a handful of centrist Republican lawmakers from high-tax states including New York and California, who are pushing to loosen a $30,000 cap on deductions for state and local taxes.
Trump is pushing for unanimous support from Republicans, and said on Tuesday that holdouts could be drummed out of the party.
Credit-rating firm Moody's last week stripped the U.S. government of its top-tier credit rating, citing the nation's growing debt.
If the package passes the House, it would then head to the Senate, where Republicans hold a 53-47 majority. That would not be expected until next month, as Congress is preparing to leave Washington next week for a week-long break.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Landlord jailed for decades in hate-crime attack on Palestinian American family has died
Landlord jailed for decades in hate-crime attack on Palestinian American family has died

The Independent

time23 minutes ago

  • The Independent

Landlord jailed for decades in hate-crime attack on Palestinian American family has died

A landlord jailed for decades after he attacked a Palestinian American boy and his mother has died. Three months ago, Joseph Czuba was sentenced to 53 years behind bars for the attack. He was found guilty in February of murder, attempted murder and hate-crime charges in the death of Wadee Alfayoumi and the wounding of the boy's mother, Hanan Shaheen. The 73-year-old Czuba targeted them in October 2023 because of their Islamic faith and as a response to the war between Israel and Hamas, which started days earlier. Czuba died Thursday in the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections, the Chicago Sun-Times reported, citing the Will County Sheriff's Office. The law enforcement agency did not return a call seeking comment on the death. Ahmed Rehab, the executive director of Council on American-Islamic Relations' Chicago office, said in a statement on Saturday that 'this depraved killer has died, but the hate is still alive and well.' Evidence at trial included harrowing testimony from Shaheen and her frantic 911 call, along with bloody crime scene photos and police video. Jurors deliberated less than 90 minutes before handing in a verdict. The family had been renting rooms in Czuba's home in Plainfield, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) from Chicago when the attack happened. Central to prosecutors' case was harrowing testimony from the boy's mother, who said Czuba attacked her before moving on to her son, insisting they had to leave because they were Muslim. Prosecutors also played the 911 call and showed police footage. Czuba's wife, Mary, whom he has since divorced, also testified for the prosecution, saying he had become agitated about the Israel-Hamas war, which had erupted days earlier. Police said Czuba pulled a knife from a holder on a belt and stabbed the boy 26 times, leaving the knife in the child's body. Some of the bloody crime scene photos were so explicit that the judge agreed to turn television screens showing them away from the audience, which included Wadee's relatives. The attack renewed fears of anti-Muslim discrimination and hit particularly hard in Plainfield and surrounding suburbs, which have a large and established Palestinian community. Wadee's funeral drew large crowds, and Plainfield officials have dedicated a park playground in his honor.

DOGE plans to use AI to identify 50% of 200,000 federal regulations that can be eliminated by Trump
DOGE plans to use AI to identify 50% of 200,000 federal regulations that can be eliminated by Trump

The Independent

time23 minutes ago

  • The Independent

DOGE plans to use AI to identify 50% of 200,000 federal regulations that can be eliminated by Trump

Federal government agencies are reportedly using an artificial intelligence tool from Elon Musk 's DOGE initiative to identify regulations to cut, with a goal of cutting about half from a list of 200,000 federal rules. The tool, the ' DOGE AI Deregulation Tool,' is already in use at the Department of Housing and Urban Development as well as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, The Washington Post reports. The U.S. Doge Service described using the tool to analyze about 200,000 regulations to find ones that officials believe are neither necessary nor legally required, with a goal of cutting half by next January and saving the government trillions of dollars in spending by the anniversary of Trump 's inauguration, according to a PowerPoint presentation obtained by The Post. The DOGE tool has already been used to review more than 1,000 'regulatory sections' at the housing department, as well as to drive '100% of deregulations' at the consumer protection bureau, according to the presentation. The White House and the housing agency described the efforts as preliminary. 'The DOGE experts creating these plans are the best and brightest in the business and are embarking on a never-before-attempted transformation of government systems and operations to enhance efficiency and effectiveness,' an administration spokesperson told the newspaper. The Independent requested comment from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, one of the architects of the DOGE program, once mused about mass-deleting federal spending by culling large numbers of government workers. 'If your Social Security number ends in an odd number, you're out. If it ends in an even number, you're in,' he said in an interview with podcaster Lex Fridman in September. 'There's a 50 percent cut right there. Of those who remain, if your Social Security number starts in an even number, you're in, and if it starts with an odd number, you're out. Boom. That's a 75 percent reduction done.' Musk left the Trump administration in May, and in that time, DOGE failed to achieve the trillion-dollar cuts to federal spending the billionaire suggested might be possible. The effort — housed in a government tech agency renamed as the U.S. DOGE Service via executive order signed by the president,— was met with sharp criticism from Democratic officials, as well as scores of lawsuits from agency employees and advocacy groups arguing the initiative flouted key parts of transparency rules, federal rule-making guidelines, and budget laws. In its first six months, the Trump administration implemented actions reducing regulatory costs by $86 billion and 52.2 million hours in paperwork, according to the American Action Forum.

Four arrested after Trump protests across Scotland and UKIP rally
Four arrested after Trump protests across Scotland and UKIP rally

Daily Record

time23 minutes ago

  • Daily Record

Four arrested after Trump protests across Scotland and UKIP rally

Police Scotland have confirmed that officers took action at various events across the country on Saturday and a number of people were arrested. At least four people have been arrested following a day of mass protests across Scotland. ‌ Scots turned out in force to demonstrate against Donald Trump 's visit to the country in both Aberdeen and Edinburgh, while in Glasgow a march organised by UK Independence Party (UKIP),calling for 'mass deportations' was met by hundreds of counter protesters. ‌ Police Scotland have confirmed that officers took action at various events across the country on Saturday, July 26. ‌ In Aberdeen, an 18-year-old man was arrested in connection with a number of outstanding warrants and will appear at court at a later date. While 56-year-old man will be subject of a report to the Procurator Fiscal following an alleged assault in Aberdeen city centre. ‌ In Glasgow, a 49-year-old woman was arrested in connection with an alleged obstruction of the police following an incident in George Square. A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal. A 50-year-old woman was issued with a Recorded Police Warning in connection with alleged threatening behaviour in Regent Terrace, Edinburgh. ‌ Trump arrived in Scotland on Friday and took to his Turnberry golf course on the first full day of his visit. Hundreds gathered in both Edinburgh and Aberdeen – near the site of the US President's other Scottish golf resort – to make their opposition to the president known. A major security operation surrounded him, with police officers and military personnel seen scouring the grounds ahead of Mr Trump teeing off. ‌ Sniffer dogs were seen patrolling the golf course in Ayrshire, with the Navy carrying out sweeps in the water beside the seaside course, while Army vehicles were spotted on the nearby A77 road. Police Scotland has asked for support from other forces across the UK to bolster officer numbers for the high profile visit – with Mr Swinney appealing to people to protest 'peacefully and within the law'. ‌ In Glasgow, protestors came together on Buchanan Street to oppose a rally organised by UKIP. In a post announcing the march, UKIP said the demonstration would 'send a message to Holyrood that we are taking our country back,' adding: 'the people of Glasgow demand mass-deportations.' UKIP estimated 200 would attend the march through the city centre. The counter protest, attended by trade unionists, faith organisations, and other anti-racist and anti-fascists, was organised by Stand Up to Racism Scotland. Sharing a video of the demo to social media, they said: 'Hundreds of anti-fascists and anti-racists from the trade unions, community and faith organisations have answered the call to say that fascists "shall not pass" in Glasgow.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store