Senate Narrowly Advances Trump’s Tax and Spending Megabill

The initial vote on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was 51-49, with most Republicans in favor and all Democrats opposed, putting the Senate potentially on track to pass the bill by Monday after a day of debate and amendments. GOP Sens Rand Paul (R-KY) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) broke with their party to vote against advancing the bill. President Trump wants the bill passed by the Senate and the House and on his desk by a self-imposed deadline of July 4. Senators have been discussing the megabill for months, but the tense vote was the first real test of support. Republicans required more than three hours to wrangle all the votes to keep moving forward with the legislation, which carries the core of President Trump’s agenda but also has provisions that irritate centrist and conservative GOP lawmakers.