Trump's Bill In Jeopardy As 5 GOP Lawmakers Break Ranks House Speaker Can Only Afford 3 'No' Votes

(MENAFN- Live Mint) US House Speaker Mike Johnson and his leadership team are working to secure support for a critical procedural vote on Donald Trump's bill, scrambling for backing as the vote unfolds.

Five Republicans, including Reps. Andrew Clyde, Keith Self, Victoria Spartz, and Brian Fitzpatrick remain opposed, a number that could derail the vote entirely. CNN reported that Speaker Johnson can only afford to lose three.

Who said 'NO'?

With only three defections allowed, the current“no” votes are enough to block the procedural motion and stall the bill's final passage. Fitzpatrick's opposition came as a surprise to several in Republican leadership, CNN reported.

The no votes are: Reps Andrew Clyde, Keith Self, Victoria Spartz and Brian Fitzpatrick, Reps Thomas Massie.

Rep. Andrew Clyde (Georgia): Opposes the bill due to the Senate parliamentarian's removal of a provision eliminating the registration requirement and fee for firearms silencers.

Also Read: House resumes work as GOP leaders court holdouts on Donald Trump's tax bill; US Prez asserts 'majority is united'

Rep. Victoria Spartz (Indiana): A fiscal conservative who plans to vote against the procedural motion but says she will ultimately support the bill itself.

Rep. Keith Self (Texas): A Freedom Caucus member backing the original framework passed by the House in June, but currently withholding support for the updated bill.

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (Pennsylvania): A centrist and past opponent of repealing the Affordable Care Act, whose opposition came as a surprise to GOP leadership.

Rep. Thomas Massie (Kentucky): Massie has voted“no” against a key procedural vote to advance Trump's agenda bill with the vote still underway and not over yet.

The vote remains open as Speaker Mike Johnson has voted to keep it open“as long as it takes” and GOP leaders work to try to flip holdouts. There are currently five“no” votes on the board and eight GOP lawmakers who have not yet voted.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said,“The USA is on track to break every record on GROWTH. Go Republicans, beat the Crooked Democrats tonight! PRO-GROWTH Tax Cuts never fail. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

What does Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' say?

The proposed legislation would make permanent several individual and business tax cuts from Donald Trump's first term while introducing new temporary benefits he campaigned on in 2024. Key provisions include deductions for tips and overtime pay, as well as a $6,000 deduction for most seniors earning under $75,000 annually. Altogether, the bill delivers roughly $4.5 trillion in tax cuts over a decade.

In addition, it allocates about $350 billion toward defense spending and Trump's immigration enforcement agenda. To offset some of the cost, Republicans propose cuts to Medicaid and food assistance programs. Despite those measures, the Congressional Budget Office estimates the plan would increase the federal debt by approximately $3.3 trillion over the next ten years.

The package includes new 80-hour-a-month work requirements for many adults receiving Medicaid and applies existing work requirements in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, to more beneficiaries. States will also pick up more of the cost for food benefits, AP reported.

The Tax Policy Center, which provides nonpartisan analysis of tax and budget policy, projected the bill would result next year in a $150 tax break for the lowest quintile of Americans, a $1,750 tax cut for the middle quintile and a $10,950 tax cut for the top quintile. That's compared with what they would face if the 2017 tax cuts expired.

(This is a developing story)

(With inputs from CNN)

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