The "Big Beautiful Bill" Progressing in the U.S. Senate

June 29, 2025 – WASHINGTON, D.C.-The Republican controlled U.S. Senate voted late Saturday to advance President Trump's tax-and-spending megabill. Two Republicans voted "No" but the defections ultimately did not matter as the bill narrowly cleared the key procedural hurdle.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed 51 to 49, with all Republicans voting in favor – excepts for Senators Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) and Rand Paul (R-Kentucky). All Democrats were opposed. This puts the Senate on track to pass the bill by Monday after a day of debate and amendments.

Tillis, after being blasted by President Donald J. Trump for his opposition to the President's spending bill, announced that he will not be running for reelection.

Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) was a strong supporter of the bill.

"First of all, this bill will make President Trump's 2017 tax cuts PERMANENT," Tuberville wrote recently in the Alabama Gazette. "If we don't pass this bill, Alabamians' taxes will go up by 20-30%. It is estimated that a typical Alabama family of four would see an increase of more than $1,700 – about the cost of seven weeks of groceries."

"Our bill also includes NEW tax cuts that put blue collar workers first," said Tuberville. "These are the popular policies President Trump ran on like No Tax on Overtime, No Tax on Tips, and Social Security tax relief for seniors."

"This bill gives our family farmers a lifeline by increasing the federal estate exemption threshold to $15 million per individual and $30 million per couple," said Tuberville. "This bill takes important steps to address waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars. For example, it gets rid of some of the woke climate regulations passed under the Biden administration that do nothing to help the environment and have crushed American small businesses and families. It also makes important reforms to Medicaid, which will ensure that illegal immigrants aren't stealing benefits efits from Americans and preserve the program for Alabamians who need it most."

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Sen. Rick Scott (R-Florida), Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), and Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming) all expressed misgivings about the bill, but ultimately were persuaded to vote for it.

Sen. Katie Britt (R-Alabama) slammed Democrats for opposing extending the tax cuts; but who left them in place when they controlled Congress during President Biden's presidency.

"Why didn't Democrats undo President Trump's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in either of their two reconciliation bills?" said Sen. Britt. "Because they know it's been tremendous for American families and our economy."

A number of key GOP provisions were stricken from the bill by the Senate Parliamentarian - Elizabeth MacDonough.

Senator Tuberville said, "An unelected bureaucrat should not be able to overrule U.S. Congressmen who are elected BY THE PEOPLE."

Because those provisions were stricken by the Parliamentarian, those provisions would have to pass in their own separate bill and be subject to the 60 vote threshold – which won't happen given the makeup of the Senate.

The bill – assuming it passes the Senate – still has to go back to the House of Representatives for that body to consider Senate changes. It likely will go to a conference committee for reconciliation.