Donald Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill' narrowly passes after tumultuous journey through Congress and fierce Democratic resistance
A short time after midnight, House Speaker Mike Johnson declared: 'We have the votes', following the test ballot with the megabill clearing its final hurdle.
The 218-214 vote amounts to a significant domestic victory for the Republican President that will fund his immigration crackdown, make his 2017 tax cuts permanent and deliver new tax breaks that he promised during his 2024 election campaign.
Nearly all members voted along party lines, with all 212 Democrats voting in unison against the bill and were joined by two Republicans, Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania.
Republican leaders in the House of Representatives and the President himself spent all night convincing holdouts to get in line behind the controversial legislation to meet the strict deadline of July 4.
Trump kept up the pressure throughout, persuading and threatening lawmakers as he pressed them to finish the job.
"FOR REPUBLICANS, THIS SHOULD BE AN EASY YES VOTE. RIDICULOUS!!!" he wrote on his Truth Social platform.
"Largest Tax Cuts in History and a Booming Economy vs. Biggest Tax Increase in History, and a Failed Economy. What are the Republicans waiting for??? What are you trying to prove???"
House Speaker Mike Johnson said: 'This is jet fuel for the economy, and all boats are going to rise.'
"Today we are laying a key cornerstone of America's new golden age."
The 869-page bill, worth $3.4 trillion, would raise the US debt ceiling by $5 trillion and combines significant tax cuts with increases in border and military spending as well as sweeping cuts to healthcare and food assistance programs.
The bill represents a dramatic realignment of the federal government's role in American life, shifting resources from the social safety net and investments in clean energy and reorienting them to finance trillions of dollars in spending on tax cuts.
Despite concerns within Trump's party over the bill's hefty price tag and its hit to healthcare programs, in the end just two of the House's 220 Republicans voting against it, following an intense overnight standoff.
The bill has already cleared the Republican-controlled Senate by the narrowest possible margin.
The White House confirmed Trump will sign it into law at 5pm American time on Friday, the July 4 Independence Day holiday.
Congressional Democrats blasted the bill as a giveaway to the wealthy that would leave millions uninsured, coining the mammoth legislation the "big, ugly bill".
"The focus of this bill, the justification for all of the cuts that will hurt everyday Americans, is to provide massive tax breaks for billionaires," House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in an eight-hour, 46-minute speech that was the longest in the chamber's history.
During the speech, Jeffries read letters from people insured through Medicaid, including many who said they live in congressional districts represented by Republicans.
Jeffries called the bill "an immoral document".
"Everybody should vote no against it because of how it attacks children and seniors and everyday Americans. And people with disabilities," Jeffries said.
According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the bill would lower tax revenues by $4.5 trillion over 10 years and cut spending by $1.1 trillion.
The spending cuts largely come from Medicaid, the health program that covers 71 million low-income Americans.
The bill would tighten enrollment standards, institute a work requirement and clamp down on a funding mechanism used by states to boost federal payments - changes that would leave nearly 12 million people uninsured, according to the CBO.
Republicans added $50 billion for rural health providers to address concerns that those cutbacks would force them out of business.
Nonpartisan analysts have found that the wealthiest Americans would see the biggest benefits from the bill, while lower-income people would effectively see their incomes drop.
On the other side of the ledger, the bill staves off tax increases that were due to hit most Americans at the end of this year when Trump's 2017 individual and business tax cuts were due to expire.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Kyiv hits Russian air base as drones pound Ukraine
Ukraine has struck a Russian air base and Russia continues to pound Ukraine with hundreds of drones as part of a stepped-up bombing campaign that has further dashed hopes for a breakthrough in efforts to end the more than three-year-old war. Ukraine's military General Staff said on Saturday that Ukrainian forces had struck the Borisoglebsk air base in Russia's Voronezh region, describing it as the "home base" of Russia's Su-34, Su-35S and Su-30SM fighter jets. Writing on Facebook, the General Staff said it hit a depot containing glide bombs, a training aircraft and "possibly other aircraft". Russian officials did not immediately comment on the attack. Such attacks on Russian air bases aim to dent Russia's military capability and demonstrate Ukraine's capability to hit high-value targets in Russia. In June, Ukraine said it destroyed more than 40 Russian planes stationed at several airfields deep in Russia's territory in a surprise drone attack. Russia fired 322 drones and decoys into Ukraine overnight into Saturday, Ukraine's air force said. Of these, 157 were shot down and 135 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed. According to the air force, Ukraine's western Khmelnytskyi region was the main target of the attack. Regional governor Serhii Tyurin said no damage, injuries or deaths had been reported. Russia has been stepping up its long-range attacks on Ukraine. Waves of drones and missiles targeted Kyiv overnight into Friday in the largest aerial assault since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began. On Saturday, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the number of people killed in the assault had increased to two. A further 26 people were wounded. The fresh wave of attacks came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday that he had a "very important and productive" phone call with US President Donald Trump. The two leaders discussed how Ukrainian air defences might be strengthened, possible joint weapons production between the US and Ukraine, and broader US-led efforts to end the war with Russia, according to a statement by Zelenksiy. Asked Friday night by reporters about the call, Trump said, "We had a very good call, I think." When asked about finding a way to end the fighting, Trump said: "I don't know. I can't tell you whether or not that's going to happen." The US has paused some shipments of military aid to Ukraine, including crucial air defence missiles. Ukraine's main European backers are considering how they can help pick up the slack. Zelenskiy says plans are afoot to build up Ukraine's domestic arms industry, but scaling up will take time. Russia's defence ministry said it shot down 94 Ukrainian drones overnight into Saturday, along with 12 further drones on Saturday morning. No casualties were reported. Ukraine has struck a Russian air base and Russia continues to pound Ukraine with hundreds of drones as part of a stepped-up bombing campaign that has further dashed hopes for a breakthrough in efforts to end the more than three-year-old war. Ukraine's military General Staff said on Saturday that Ukrainian forces had struck the Borisoglebsk air base in Russia's Voronezh region, describing it as the "home base" of Russia's Su-34, Su-35S and Su-30SM fighter jets. Writing on Facebook, the General Staff said it hit a depot containing glide bombs, a training aircraft and "possibly other aircraft". Russian officials did not immediately comment on the attack. Such attacks on Russian air bases aim to dent Russia's military capability and demonstrate Ukraine's capability to hit high-value targets in Russia. In June, Ukraine said it destroyed more than 40 Russian planes stationed at several airfields deep in Russia's territory in a surprise drone attack. Russia fired 322 drones and decoys into Ukraine overnight into Saturday, Ukraine's air force said. Of these, 157 were shot down and 135 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed. According to the air force, Ukraine's western Khmelnytskyi region was the main target of the attack. Regional governor Serhii Tyurin said no damage, injuries or deaths had been reported. Russia has been stepping up its long-range attacks on Ukraine. Waves of drones and missiles targeted Kyiv overnight into Friday in the largest aerial assault since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began. On Saturday, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the number of people killed in the assault had increased to two. A further 26 people were wounded. The fresh wave of attacks came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday that he had a "very important and productive" phone call with US President Donald Trump. The two leaders discussed how Ukrainian air defences might be strengthened, possible joint weapons production between the US and Ukraine, and broader US-led efforts to end the war with Russia, according to a statement by Zelenksiy. Asked Friday night by reporters about the call, Trump said, "We had a very good call, I think." When asked about finding a way to end the fighting, Trump said: "I don't know. I can't tell you whether or not that's going to happen." The US has paused some shipments of military aid to Ukraine, including crucial air defence missiles. Ukraine's main European backers are considering how they can help pick up the slack. Zelenskiy says plans are afoot to build up Ukraine's domestic arms industry, but scaling up will take time. Russia's defence ministry said it shot down 94 Ukrainian drones overnight into Saturday, along with 12 further drones on Saturday morning. No casualties were reported. Ukraine has struck a Russian air base and Russia continues to pound Ukraine with hundreds of drones as part of a stepped-up bombing campaign that has further dashed hopes for a breakthrough in efforts to end the more than three-year-old war. Ukraine's military General Staff said on Saturday that Ukrainian forces had struck the Borisoglebsk air base in Russia's Voronezh region, describing it as the "home base" of Russia's Su-34, Su-35S and Su-30SM fighter jets. Writing on Facebook, the General Staff said it hit a depot containing glide bombs, a training aircraft and "possibly other aircraft". Russian officials did not immediately comment on the attack. Such attacks on Russian air bases aim to dent Russia's military capability and demonstrate Ukraine's capability to hit high-value targets in Russia. In June, Ukraine said it destroyed more than 40 Russian planes stationed at several airfields deep in Russia's territory in a surprise drone attack. Russia fired 322 drones and decoys into Ukraine overnight into Saturday, Ukraine's air force said. Of these, 157 were shot down and 135 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed. According to the air force, Ukraine's western Khmelnytskyi region was the main target of the attack. Regional governor Serhii Tyurin said no damage, injuries or deaths had been reported. Russia has been stepping up its long-range attacks on Ukraine. Waves of drones and missiles targeted Kyiv overnight into Friday in the largest aerial assault since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began. On Saturday, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the number of people killed in the assault had increased to two. A further 26 people were wounded. The fresh wave of attacks came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday that he had a "very important and productive" phone call with US President Donald Trump. The two leaders discussed how Ukrainian air defences might be strengthened, possible joint weapons production between the US and Ukraine, and broader US-led efforts to end the war with Russia, according to a statement by Zelenksiy. Asked Friday night by reporters about the call, Trump said, "We had a very good call, I think." When asked about finding a way to end the fighting, Trump said: "I don't know. I can't tell you whether or not that's going to happen." The US has paused some shipments of military aid to Ukraine, including crucial air defence missiles. Ukraine's main European backers are considering how they can help pick up the slack. Zelenskiy says plans are afoot to build up Ukraine's domestic arms industry, but scaling up will take time. Russia's defence ministry said it shot down 94 Ukrainian drones overnight into Saturday, along with 12 further drones on Saturday morning. No casualties were reported. Ukraine has struck a Russian air base and Russia continues to pound Ukraine with hundreds of drones as part of a stepped-up bombing campaign that has further dashed hopes for a breakthrough in efforts to end the more than three-year-old war. Ukraine's military General Staff said on Saturday that Ukrainian forces had struck the Borisoglebsk air base in Russia's Voronezh region, describing it as the "home base" of Russia's Su-34, Su-35S and Su-30SM fighter jets. Writing on Facebook, the General Staff said it hit a depot containing glide bombs, a training aircraft and "possibly other aircraft". Russian officials did not immediately comment on the attack. Such attacks on Russian air bases aim to dent Russia's military capability and demonstrate Ukraine's capability to hit high-value targets in Russia. In June, Ukraine said it destroyed more than 40 Russian planes stationed at several airfields deep in Russia's territory in a surprise drone attack. Russia fired 322 drones and decoys into Ukraine overnight into Saturday, Ukraine's air force said. Of these, 157 were shot down and 135 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed. According to the air force, Ukraine's western Khmelnytskyi region was the main target of the attack. Regional governor Serhii Tyurin said no damage, injuries or deaths had been reported. Russia has been stepping up its long-range attacks on Ukraine. Waves of drones and missiles targeted Kyiv overnight into Friday in the largest aerial assault since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began. On Saturday, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the number of people killed in the assault had increased to two. A further 26 people were wounded. The fresh wave of attacks came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday that he had a "very important and productive" phone call with US President Donald Trump. The two leaders discussed how Ukrainian air defences might be strengthened, possible joint weapons production between the US and Ukraine, and broader US-led efforts to end the war with Russia, according to a statement by Zelenksiy. Asked Friday night by reporters about the call, Trump said, "We had a very good call, I think." When asked about finding a way to end the fighting, Trump said: "I don't know. I can't tell you whether or not that's going to happen." The US has paused some shipments of military aid to Ukraine, including crucial air defence missiles. Ukraine's main European backers are considering how they can help pick up the slack. Zelenskiy says plans are afoot to build up Ukraine's domestic arms industry, but scaling up will take time. Russia's defence ministry said it shot down 94 Ukrainian drones overnight into Saturday, along with 12 further drones on Saturday morning. No casualties were reported.
Sydney Morning Herald
3 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Billionaire's wedding a marriage of exhibitionism and excess
I would go further than Jacqueline Maley (' The Bezos-Sanchez wedding party proves we live in an age of vulgarity ', June 29). The Bezos-Sanchez wedding surpassed vulgarity. It was an obscenity. If there were ever an argument against a wealth tax on billionaires, it was dispelled by that single event. Tony Judge, Woolgoolga Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as they say. You look at the positives and negatives of Bezos' nuptials. Jeff Bezos apparently pays a 1.1 per cent tax currently, substantially lower than the average American pays, which is likely to decrease further once the Trump bill passes through the US Congress and Senate. Having said that, Bezos has contributed to the Venice economy in the past few days in a way they could only dream of. But he can't beat Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani's son's wedding last year - apparently Ambani spent over $US$1.1 billion, which supported the local economy in India, and he also invited the world's who's who, including Tony Blair and many other influencers. In both cases, it's their own wealth they are spending or showing off, though it might look vulgar and obscene to an average punter in the street. That's life, as Derryn Hinch used to say. Mukul Desai, Hunters Hill Jacqueline Maley sums up glaring divide between the so-called rich, famous and powerful and a society desperately struggling to survive. The excess and blatant display of wealth and self-importance is all about those who telegraph to the world that despite global uncertainty, exhibitionism is of greater importance. For those of us whose love brought them to a wedding ceremony in a time and place very different to that of today, the simplicity of the occasion is something to be cherished. While we wish the newlywed couple well for their future happiness, our hope is that they retain an everlasting love that transcends the extravagance. Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook According to the long-held view 'the more expensive the wedding, the quicker the divorce', this marriage will be very short indeed. Heather Johnson, West Pennant Hills Creepy AI friends It is concerning that many young children and teenagers (or adults, for that matter) have no human confidant and must rely on an AI chatbot for interaction (' Her best friend wasn't real, but they still spoke every day ', June 29). 'Invisible friends' and diaries have always provided a safe haven for thoughts and creative play, but AI bots deliver a menacing undertow where control is limited and information flow is indeterminate. Many of our children and the vulnerable are at risk, and safeguards need to be calculated to allow safe interaction both in the 'now' and the future use of personal and confidential information. Janice Creenaune, Austinmer Shut up and shop I sympathise with Thomas Mitchell's aversion to insincere retail bonhomie (' Does the customer want to chat? Since you asked, no ', June 29). But far worse than shop assistants who chattily probe the details of one's social calendar is the irritation of having a fellow shopper insist on amiably blathering on to said assistant, with both of them oblivious to the growing queue. Maybe the 'dreaded manager' lurking somewhere offstage could 'offer feedback' to the assistant that those of us who just want to get in and get out as quickly and efficiently as possible would appreciate a timely acknowledgement of our existence as a polite nudge to the bottlenecker to keep it moving. Adrian Connelly, Springwood Degrees of toxicity
News.com.au
4 hours ago
- News.com.au
Hamas says ready to start Gaza ceasefire talks ‘immediately' ahead of Trump and Netanyahu meeting
Hamas says it is ready to start talks 'immediately' on a proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza. The announcement on Friday (local time) came after it held consultations with other Palestinian factions and before a visit on Monday by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington, where US President Donald Trump is pushing for an end to the war, now in its 21st month. 'The movement is ready to engage immediately and seriously in a cycle of negotiations on the mechanism to put in place' the terms of a draft US-backed truce proposal received from mediators, the militant group said in a statement. Hamas ally Islamic Jihad said it supported ceasefire talks, but demanded 'guarantees' that Israel 'will not resume its aggression' once hostages held in Gaza are freed. Mr Trump, when asked about Hamas' response aboard Air Force One on Friday, said: 'That's good. They haven't briefed me on it. We have to get it over with. We have to do something about Gaza.' The conflict in Gaza began with Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which sparked a massive Israeli offensive aimed at destroying Hamas and bringing home all the hostages seized by militants. Two previous ceasefires brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the United States have seen temporary halts in fighting, coupled with the return of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Mr Netanyahu earlier on Friday vowed to bring home all the hostages held in Gaza, after coming under massive domestic pressure over their fate. 'I feel a deep commitment, first and foremost, to ensure the return of all our abductees, all of them,' he said. Mr Trump said on Thursday he wanted 'safety for the people of Gaza'. 'They've gone through hell,' he said. 60-day truce proposal A Palestinian source familiar with the negotiations told AFP earlier this week that the latest proposals included 'a 60-day truce, during which Hamas would release half of the living Israeli captives in the Gaza Strip' – thought to number 22 – 'in exchange for Israel releasing a number of Palestinian prisoners and detainees'. Out of 251 hostages seized by Palestinian militants during the October 2023 attack, 49 are still held in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead. Nearly 21 months of war have created dire humanitarian conditions for the more than two million people in the Gaza Strip, where Israel has recently expanded its military operations. The military said in a statement it had been striking suspected Hamas targets across the territory, including around Gaza City in the north and Khan Yunis and Rafah in the south. Civil defence says aid-seekers killed Gaza civil defence official Mohammad al-Mughayyir said Israeli strikes and gunfire killed at least 52 people on Friday. The Israeli military said it was looking into reports, except for a handful of incidents for which it requested coordinates and timeframes. Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by the civil defence agency. In a separate statement, the Israeli military said a 19-year-old sergeant 'fell during combat in the southern Gaza Strip'. Mr Mughayyir said the Palestinians killed included five shot while waiting for aid near a US-run site near Rafah in southern Gaza and several who were waiting for aid near the Wadi Gaza Bridge in the centre of the territory. They were the latest in a spate of deaths near aid distribution centres in the devastated territory, which UN agencies have warned is on the brink of famine. The US- and Israeli-run Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has distanced itself from reports of deadly incidents near its sites. Displaced civilians Mr Mughayyir told AFP that eight people, including a child, were killed in an Israeli air strike on the tents of displaced civilians near Khan Yunis on Thursday. The civil defence official said eight more people were killed in two other strikes on camps on the coast, including one that killed two children early Friday. The Israeli military said it was operating throughout Gaza 'to dismantle Hamas military capabilities'. The Hamas attack of October 2023 resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. Israel's retaliatory military campaign has killed at least 57,268 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. The United Nations considers the figures reliable.
