Senate Republicans Race Against Time to Finalize Tax and Medicaid Overhaul

Senate Republicans are scrambling to meet President Donald Trump's July 4 deadline for their sweeping legislative package, yet they remain short of the necessary 50 votes. Despite Majority Whip John Thune's push for a Saturday afternoon vote, key holdouts persist.

The revised bill text released by Budget Chair Lindsey Graham incorporates nearly all committee contributions—except the critical Finance section. This unresolved portion contains Medicaid reforms and tax plan revisions, which were still being negotiated with the Senate Parliamentarian as of Friday night.

Last-minute adjustments aim to secure support across party factions. A compromise on the SALT deduction cap—raising it from $10,000 to $40,000 through 2025 before gradual increases—emerged after internal battles. The provision anchors a broader $4.2 trillion tax cut proposal that GOP leaders hope to pass before the holiday recess.