U.S. Senate narrowly advances Trump's sweeping tax-cut and spending bill
發佈日期: 2025-06-29 21:19
TVB News
The Republican-controlled U.S. Senate narrowly advanced President Donald Trump's sweeping tax cut and spending bill on Saturday.
This comes during a marathon weekend session marked by political drama, division, and lengthy delays as Democrats try to slow the passage of the legislation.
"The yeas are 51. The nays are 49. The motion is agreed to. The clerk will report the bill."
Senate Republicans voting in a dramatic late Saturday session narrowly cleared a key procedural step.
This, as they race to advance U.S. President Donald Trump's package of tax breaks, spending cuts and bolstered deportation funds by his July 4th deadline.
The tally, 51-49, came after a tumultuous session. Tense scenes played out in the chamber as voting came to a standstill, dragging on for hours as holdout senators huddled for negotiations.
In the end, two Republicans opposed the motion to proceed to debate, joining all Democrats.
Republicans are using their majorities in Congress to push aside Democratic opposition. However, they have run into a series of political and policy setbacks.
Not all Republican lawmakers support proposals to reduce spending on Medicaid, food stamps and other programmes as a way to help cover the cost of extending some 3.8 trillion dollars in Trump tax breaks.
The 940-page bill was released shortly before midnight Friday. Senators are expected to grind through the hours of all-night debate and amendments in the days ahead.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer slammed the bill. He said the Republicans unveiled it "in the dead of night" and are rushing to finish the bill before the public fully knows what's in it.
"Senate Republicans are scrambling to pass a radical bill," said Schumer. "Released to the public in the dead of night, praying the American people don't realise what's in it. If Senate Republicans won't tell the American people what's in this bill, then Democrats are going to force this chamber to read it from start to finish. I object."
If the Senate is able to pass it, the bill would go back to the House for a final round of votes before it could reach the White House.
