'We'll find out': Senate Republicans set for crucial vote on megabill - SALT deal hangs in balance
John Thune (left), Mike Johnson (AP)
Senate Republicans are eyeing a key procedural vote at noon on Saturday to advance the sweeping megabill, though the final timeline is yet to be decided. The tentative plan was laid out during a closed-door luncheon on Friday, according to Senators John Kennedy and John Hoeven, reported Politico.
A senior GOP aide, speaking on condition of anonymity, to the same agency, confirmed the proposed schedule but said internal consensus was still evolving.
Senate majority leader John Thune has not indicated whether he has the 50 votes needed to move the bill forward. 'We'll find out tomorrow,' he told reporters, hinting at continued resistance from some members over Medicaid provisions and deficit concerns.
In the meeting, house speaker Mike Johnson pitched the terms of a tentative SALT (state and local tax) compromise to senate Republicans.
The deal, Johnson argued, represents the best Republicans can hope for.
However, he acknowledged one remaining holdout, reportedly New York representative Nick LaLota, who later stated he was not part of any agreement.
'I believe they will,' Johnson said when asked if Senate Republicans would back the SALT deal. 'They're going to digest the final calculations, but I think we're very, very close to closing that issue.'
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Under the compromise deal, the SALT cap would be increased to $40,000 for five years, before reverting to the current $10,000 cap. Treasury secretary Scott Bessent and Johnson outlined the plan, which would cost approximately $192 billion, half the original proposal.
Meanwhile, the Senate has agreed to retain its provider tax clause but delay implementation, a move aimed at ensuring compliance with budgetary rules.
Johnson also told senators that another reconciliation bill is on the cards, potentially allowing Republicans to pursue spending cuts and policy measures excluded from the current package.
However, dissent lingers on multiple fronts. Senator Lisa Murkowski expressed concern over proposed cuts to food aid, particularly a SNAP cost-sharing change that could disproportionately impact her constituency Alaska. The provision is expected to transfer billions in food aid costs to state governments, hitting states with high payment error rates the hardest.
As Republicans inch closer to a vote, uncertainties around Medicaid, SNAP provisions, and internal GOP disagreements continue to pose challenges.
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