Washington, D.C.: House Republicans have reportedly locked down the votes needed to pass President Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill, days after Vice President JD Vance broke a tie in the Senate to advance the sweeping tax and spending legislation.
The vote had been delayed earlier Wednesday due to several absences, as GOP leaders scrambled to ensure they had the support required to clear the narrow majority hurdle.
In a sign of the high-stakes drama, lawmakers were sent back to their offices in the afternoon before debate resumed. Among those seen meeting behind closed doors were Reps Andy Harris, Chip Roy, Ralph Norman, Scott Perry, Eli Crane, Lloyd Smucker, and Andy Biggs, fueling speculation over potential dissent.
Meanwhile, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) — publicly supported by Elon Musk — continued to assert that 10 House Republicans may vote ‘no’, enough to block the bill in the tightly divided House.
Who’s Voting ‘No’?
The initial vote on May 22 offered a preview of lawmakers likely to oppose the bill again:
- Rep. Thomas Massie has strongly criticized the bill’s projected $3.8 trillion deficit impact, calling it a “debt bomb” and insufficiently aggressive in spending cuts.
- Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH) also slammed the bill’s fiscal outlook and is expected to remain a ‘no’ vote.
- Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), who serves as chair of the House Freedom Caucus, voted ‘present’ in May due to deficit concerns and may cast a full ‘no’ this time.
What Does ‘NV’ Mean?
In congressional voting records, ‘NV’ stands for ‘Not Voting’. This means a member either wasn’t present or opted not to participate in the vote. Several representatives used this option during Wednesday’s session, complicating the vote count.
Will the Bill Pass?
The bill’s fate hinges on the House GOP’s slim 218-217 majority. If four or more Republicans defect, the bill fails. The Senate passed the bill 51-49 with Vice President JD Vance breaking the tie, but Senate amendments — including stricter Medicaid work requirements and a $50 billion rural hospital fund — have irked fiscal conservatives in the House.
“As you can see, there’s still a few members who couldn’t get flights in but are driving and finding other ways to D.C. and we need them here. As you know, we need their votes. And they’re gonna be here shortly. So when they get here within the next hour we’ll come back, finish this vote, then go straight into the rule vote,” said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) on Wednesday.
While momentum seems to have shifted in the bill’s favor, Massie’s rebellion, if it holds, could still be a deciding factor.
The Big Beautiful Bill includes provisions to extend Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, eliminate taxes on tips and overtime, raise the SALT cap to $40,000, allocate $175 billion for border security and mass deportations, and cut $700 billion from Medicaid and SNAP programs.