The Senate is starting a lengthy series of votes on amendments to their massive tax and spending bill Monday morning as Republican leaders work to keep their members on board to pass the bill.
Senators spent the weekend debating the legislation bill but Republicans remain divided over several provisions, including proposed changes to Medicaid, the insurance program for low-income Americans.
Senate Republicans narrowly voted to advance their massive tax and spending bill late Saturday night after hours of delays and negotiations. Republican Sens. Thom Tillis (N.C.), and Rand Paul (Ky.), voted against a motion to start debate on the bill.
The vote was 51 to 49. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisc., originally voted no but switched his vote at the last minute, preventing the need for Vice President J.D. Vance to break a tie. Vance spent hours in the Capitol in the event that his vote was needed.
It is unclear what convinced a handful of late holdouts to switch their vote. However, Senators will have extensive opportunities to amend the current bill before any final vote occurs.
President Donald Trump said on social media it was a “great victory” for his “great, big, beautiful bill.”
There is still internal strife over how to address the nation’s borrowing limit. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, has vowed to vote against the bill over the issue.