In a dramatic Saturday night showdown, the U.S. Senate voted 51–49 to proceed to debate on President Donald J. Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBBA) a sweeping reconciliation package that fulfills nearly every major promise of his 2024 campaign.
Despite procedural hurdles, internal party negotiations, and two GOP defections, the Senate version of the bill preserves the core MAGA agenda. It includes Trump’s historic tax cuts, border enforcement, energy deregulation, entitlement reform, and steps to rein in activist courts, all while avoiding tax hikes or expanding federal bureaucracy.
The Senate vote was a major win for Majority Leader John Thune and Vice President JD Vance, who helped secure key votes from GOP skeptics. While some provisions were adjusted, the essential structure and policy goals of the House-passed version remain firmly intact. Here’s a full breakdown of the key issues. See this article for the orginal breakdown.
Senate Adjustments: What Stayed, What Shifted
Policy Area | House Version | Senate Version (Post-Vote Draft) |
---|---|---|
Medicaid reforms to end fraud — no cuts to seniors/disabled | ✅ Work checks, eligibility verification only | ⚠️ Delayed provider tax cuts + new rural hospital fund |
Child Tax Credit expansion | ✅ Enhanced support | ⚠️ Phase‑out tweaks for Senate rules |
AI and judiciary protections | ✅ Limits federal overreach | ⚠️ Temporary Senate adjustments |
Deficit reduction w/out tax increases | ✅ $1.6–$1.7 T in savings | ⚠️ Procedural holdouts over Medicaid — added rural‑hospital carve-out |
Medicaid Reforms: Adjusted for Rural Stability, Not Rolled Back
The House version included targeted reforms: work requirements, address checks, and eligibility verification. These were all designed to root out abuse while protecting the elderly, disabled, and children.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) objected to the bill’s provider tax reforms, claiming they could destabilize rural hospitals. In response, the Senate delayed those changes and added a new Rural Hospital Fund.
âś… Core anti-fraud reforms remain.
⚠️ Funding mechanics adjusted to protect rural care without touching benefits.
Child Tax Credit: Still Expanded, Rule-Compliant
The House delivered a dramatic expansion of the child tax credit, boosting support for working families.
To meet reconciliation rules, the Senate version slightly adjusts income phase-out levels. These tweaks only impact higher earners and preserve the full benefit for middle-class families.
âś… Benefit for families stays strong.
⚠️ Phase-outs altered to comply with Senate rules.
AI Preemption & Judicial Power: Tactically Modified
The House sought to block states from passing conflicting AI regulations for 10 years. This is a move aimed at ensuring national consistency and innovation freedom. It also included a “No Rogue Rulings” clause to limit judicial abuse of contempt powers.
The Senate removed these items due to Byrd Rule limitations but replaced them with a bond requirement for injunctions, which still targets judicial overreach in a procedurally valid way.
âś… Goal of limiting rogue judicial power remains.
⚠️ Method revised to pass reconciliation review.
Deficit Reduction: Strong Savings Remain
The House version produced $1.6–$1.7 trillion in savings (without raising taxes) by rooting out inefficiencies in welfare and Medicaid.
Senate negotiators slightly trimmed short-term savings to win votes from Sens. Mike Lee, Ron Johnson, Rick Scott, and others by delaying some Medicaid cuts and funding rural hospitals.
âś… Massive deficit savings preserved.
⚠️ Minor tweaks made for vote-counting and practical concerns.
Conclusion: The MAGA Agenda Remains Untouched
Despite intense negotiations and a narrow procedural margin, the Senate version of Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill delivers everything that matters:
Tax cuts made permanent
No tax on tips, overtime, or Social Security
Border wall funded without taxpayer burden
Energy independence restored
Medicaid reformed, not slashed
Deficit reduced—no new taxes
Judicial activism checked
These adjustments don’t weaken the bill, they refine it to clear procedural and political obstacles. And all unresolved conservative priorities (like AI preemption and judicial constraints) can still be reintroduced through separate appropriations or standalone legislation.
The final vote is expected this week, with a potential July 4 signing ceremony. If passed, it will mark one of the most comprehensive and successful legislative follow-throughs of any modern presidency.

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