Trump's Tax-Cut Bill Heads For Final Vote

Source Credit : Reuters

Republicans in the House of Representatives advanced U.S. President Donald Trump's massive tax-cut and spending bill toward a final yes-or-no vote early Thursday morning, appearing to overcome internal party divisions over its cost.

Following a day of closed-door meetings both on Capitol Hill and at the White House, lawmakers cleared a final procedural hurdle needed to begin debate on the bill in a 219-213 vote around 3:30 a.m. (0730 GMT). Lawmakers then reopened debate for a final vote that was expected around 5:30 a.m.

An earlier procedural vote was held open for seven hours on Wednesday, giving Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson time to convince holdouts to back the president's signature bill.

Johnson had expressed optimism on Wednesday night, saying lawmakers had a "long, productive day" discussing the issues.

After the vote he praised Trump for making phone calls to the holdouts through the early hours of Thursday morning.

"There couldn't be a more engaged and involved president," Johnson told reporters.

The Senate passed the legislation, which nonpartisan analysts say will add $3.4 trillion to the nation's $36.2 trillion in debt over the next decade, by the narrowest possible margin on Tuesday after intense debate on the bill's hefty price tag and $900 million in cuts to the Medicaid healthcare program for low-income Americans.