U.S. Government & governance July 2025 –

Letters from an American June 30, 2025
Heather Cox Richardson
“This is the most deeply immoral piece of legislation I have ever voted on in my entire time in Congress,” said Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT).
“[W]e’re debating a bill that’s going to cut healthcare for 16 million people. It’s going to give a tax break to…massively wealthy people who don’t need any more money. There are going to be kids who go hungry because of this bill. This is the biggest reduction in…nutrition benefits for kids in the history of the country.” Murphy continued: “We’re obviously gonna continue to offer these amendments to try to make it better. So far not a single one of our amendments…has passed, but we’ll be here all day, probably all night, giving Republicans the chance over and over and over again to slim down the tax cuts for the corporations or to make life a little bit…less miserable for hungry kids or maybe don’t throw as many people off of healthcare. Maybe don’t close so many rural hospitals. It’s gonna be a long day and a long night.”
“This bill is a farce,” said Senator Angus King (I-ME). “Imagine a bunch of guys sitting around a table, saying, ‘I’ve got a great idea. Let’s give $32,000 worth of tax breaks to a millionaire and we’ll pay for it by taking health insurance away from lower-income and middle-income people. And to top it off, how about we cut food stamps, we cut SNAP, we cut food aid to people?’… I’ve been in this business of public policy now for 20 years, eight years as governor, 12 years in the United States Senate. I have never seen a bill this bad. I have never seen a bill that is this irresponsible, regressive, and downright cruel.”

1-2 July
Fractured G.O.P. Fights Over Trump’s Bill as His Deadline Looms
(NYT) Divisions within President Trump’s own party threatened on Wednesday to derail the major legislation to fulfill his domestic agenda. The White House and Speaker Mike Johnson are working to unite House Republicans behind the bill to slash taxes and the federal safety net, but objections from several conservatives suggest that Mr. Johnson might lack the support to pass it before Mr. Trump’s Friday deadline. Fiscal hard-liners say the bill would add too much to the national debt, while more moderate Republicans fear its cuts go too far. Read more ›
Johnson faces G.O.P. resistance to a quick vote on Trump’s signature bill.
Mr. Johnson can only afford a small number of defections on President Trump’s signature domestic policy bill
House left in limbo as megabill talks continue
Leaders blame travel delays, but vote-whipping has heated up.
(Politico) Republican holdouts on the Senate-passed version of the party’s “big, beautiful bill” are huddling with House GOP leaders, who are holding open a vote to move the legislation forward as they negotiate.
The procedural vote remained stuck more than 90 minutes after it was first called. Seven Republicans have yet to vote, and several of them are gathered in a room off the House floor where Speaker Mike Johnson and other top leaders have been shuffling in and out.
The House rushes to pass Trump’s big bill
(AP) Republican leaders in the House are sprinting toward a Wednesday vote on President Donald Trump’s tax and spending cuts package, determined to seize momentum from a hard-fought vote in the Senate while essentially daring members to defy their party’s leader and vote against it.
It’s a risky gambit designed to meet Trump’s demand for a July 4 finish.
House members scramble to return to DC for megabill vote
Storms along the east coast are forcing some lawmakers to drive hours back to DC
Some House members are going to great lengths to make it back to to Washington for a vote on the Republican megabill after severe weather canceled dozens of flights.
US Senate passes Trump’s sweeping tax-cut and spending bill, setting up House battle
Measure passes 51-50 after days of debate, all-night session
Democrats criticize bill for Medicaid cuts
Vice President JD Vance cast tiebreaking vote
Path to House passage also tricky
(Reuters) U.S. Senate Republicans passed President Donald Trump’s massive tax-cut and spending bill on Tuesday by the narrowest of margins, advancing a package that would slash taxes, reduce social safety net programs and boost military and immigration enforcement spending while adding $3.3 trillion to the national debt.
The legislation now heads to the House of Representatives for possible final approval, though a handful of Republicans there have already voiced opposition to some of the Senate provisions.
Senate Republicans Overcome 3 Holdouts to Send Signature Policy Bill to House
The Senate passed President Trump’s marquee bill to slash taxes and social safety net programs after more than 24 hours of debate and negotiations. It must now go to the House for final approval.
(NYT) The Senate passed President Trump’s signature tax and domestic policy bill on Tuesday, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tiebreaking vote after three Republicans broke ranks and joined Democrats in opposition. If approved in the House, where deep cuts to Medicaid and the $3.3 trillion it would add to the national debt have unnerved some Republicans, the legislation could deal staggering financial losses to low-income Americans while reserving its greatest benefits for the rich.
Republican Bill Puts Nation on New, More Perilous Fiscal Path
Among the most expensive pieces of legislation in years, the Republican legislation could reshape the country’s finances for a generation.