Donald Trump’s massive infrastructure spending bill is headed for a make-or-break vote on the floor of the House of Representatives. It’s made it through a rocky passage through Congress. The legislation has the potential to heavily inform the direction of Trump’s second presidency. It calls for major extensions of tax cuts totaling $4.5 trillion, as well as huge increases for defense and border security. Republican lawmakers largely back it — yet some express skepticism. In a recent shift, some of those holdouts moved, allowing the bill to clear an important procedural hurdle known as cloture.
The bill provides $150 billion for defense and $129 billion for border security. Critics—most pointedly, conservative budget hawks—have been quick to express their alarm. With the national debt skyrocketing, they claim the plan fails to cut spending enough to address it. As lawmakers expressed concern over the short timeline for review, Trump urged them to pass the bill quickly. Though deep lines of dissatisfaction remain, he has given them a self-imposed deadline to complete it by the July 4th holiday.
As the final vote draws near, Trump has ramped up his arm twisting to bring Republicans on board. He’s already made personal appeals to the more conservative members of his party to get them to support the bill.
“To my GOP friends in the House: Stay UNITED, have fun, and Vote ‘YAY’” – Donald Trump
The bill as proposed would deliver significant savings over the coming 10 years. Medicaid savings are projected to be $930 billion, green energy measures $488 billion, and food benefits $287 billion. These numbers are significant because they show how the bill will immediately reduce American spending and increase savings over the long term.
The road to this key vote has not been easy. The passage of Trump’s bill has been shaky, a reflection of fissures within the increasingly divided Republican Party. Some lawmakers have labeled the lack of more aggressive spending cuts as an “ultimate betrayal,” signaling ongoing discontent with the bill’s provisions.
Given all these difficulties, it’s no surprise that Trump’s haste has started to show. He urged the need to keep up momentum in order to get a final, favorable vote done before the holiday recess.
“We are on schedule – Let’s keep it going, and be done before you and your family go on a July 4th vacation” – Donald Trump
This is the legislative effort that will define Trump’s presidency. Further, it will serve as a critical frame in debates about fiscal policy going forward in Congress. The Backlog It’s with that backdrop that the House is preparing for one of the most closely watched votes. Both supporters and critics of the bill are gearing up for the major change it will usher in.