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The House of Representatives took a key step early Thursday morning toward passing a massive tax-cut and spending bill backed by President Donald Trump. In a narrow 219–213 vote, Republicans succeeded in advancing the legislation to the next stage a full floor vote, which is expected to take place by 8 a.m. Eastern Time. The bill, which proposes sweeping tax cuts alongside significant spending increases, faces staunch opposition from Democrats, who are unified in voting against it. That means House Speaker Mike Johnson can afford to lose only three Republican votes if the bill is to pass. The close procedural vote already saw five Republican defections, putting its future in serious doubt. Among those voting against advancing the bill are Representatives Thomas Massie (KY), Keith Self (TX), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA), Andrew Clyde (GA), and Victoria Spartz (IN). All have expressed varying concerns ranging from national debt and fiscal irresponsibility to ideological opposition. Massie and Spartz had private meetings with Johnson earlier but emerged without commenting on any possible changes of heart. As the night wore on, only a few lawmakers remained on the House floor. Speaker Nancy Pelosi, one of the last Democrats still present, thanked staffers for their late-night work and labeled the prolonged session “total foolishness.” Meanwhile, eight Republican members most of them known for their budget hawk tendencies had yet to cast their votes. The outcome may hinge on how these undecided members align themselves ahead of the final vote.
As the final vote on Trump’s ambitious tax and spending bill nears, House Speaker Mike Johnson faces a daunting challenge: convincing just enough Republican holdouts to get the bill over the finish line. The procedural vote to move the bill forward passed early Thursday morning, but only by a slim 219–213 margin barely enough to continue the legislative process. Speaker Johnson has been working late into the night, engaging personally with skeptical Republicans in hopes of flipping votes before the decisive vote set for 8 a.m. Eastern. So far, five GOP lawmakers have publicly voted against moving the bill forward, including high-profile fiscal conservatives such as Thomas Massie and Keith Self. Their main concerns center on what they see as irresponsible levels of federal spending included in the bill. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, one of the more moderate Republicans in Congress, also opposed the procedural step and quickly left the chamber after voting a sign he may be unwilling to negotiate. Meanwhile, Andrew Clyde and Victoria Spartz joined the dissenters, although Spartz participated in a closed-door meeting with Johnson. Eight more Republican members have not yet voted. All are considered fiscally conservative and could be swayed either way. These votes are crucial, since even one more defection could block the final passage. Democrats, for their part, are holding firm in opposition. Pelosi’s late-night presence on the House floor underscored the seriousness of the debate, though she dismissed the drawn-out process as “total foolishness.” As dawn approaches, the bill’s fate remains unclear. Johnson’s leadership and his ability to corral votes from his own party will determine whether Trump’s latest legislative priority clears the House or collapses under Republican infighting.
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