From Fox News: The House of Representatives has voted to advance President Donald Trump’s $3.3 trillion “big, beautiful bill” to its final phase in Congress, overcoming fears of a potential Republican mutiny.
It’s a significant victory for House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., though the fight is not over yet.
Lawmakers voted to proceed with debate on the mammoth-sized Trump agenda bill on Wednesday – a mechanism known as a “rule vote” – teeing up a final House-wide vote sometime later today or tomorrow.
But it’s not clear how long the process will take as of now. Democrats could still call up various procedural votes to delay the final measure, as they did when the legislation passed the House by just one vote for the first time in late May.
Conservative lawmakers were threatening to derail the rule vote as recently as Tuesday over changes the Senate made to the legislation, which members of the House Freedom Caucus argued would add billions of dollars to the federal deficit.
The bill appeared to be stalled out late Wednesday night, with 5 Republicans voting “no” and 8 others had not voted by midnight.
The five Republicans voting “no” were: Reps. Andrew Clyde of Georgia, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Keith Self of Texas, Victoria Spartz of Indiana, and Thomas Massie of Kentucky. In the end, all flipped back to “yes” except Fitzpatrick.
The vote was left open for hours, as eight other Republican lawmakers had not yet voted: Reps. Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma, Tim Burchett of Tennessee, Eric Burlison of Missouri, Michael Cloud of Texas, Andy Harris of Maryland, Bob Onder of Missouri, Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, and Chip Roy of Texas.
President Trump was reportedly on the phone with House Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republicans throughout the evening.
At one point, Trump wrote on Truth Social, “Largest Tax Cuts in History and a Booming Economy vs. Biggest Tax Increase in History, and a Failed Economy. What are the Republicans waiting for??? What are you trying to prove??? MAGA IS NOT HAPPY, AND IT’S COSTING YOU VOTES!!!”
Clearly getting frustrated, Trump added, “FOR REPUBLICANS, THIS SHOULD BE AN EASY YES VOTE. RIDICULOUS!!!”
Just after 3:30 a.m., Fox News reporter Chad Pergram announced: “House gets past test vote to begin debate on the Big, Beautiful Bill. Vote was 219-213. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA). All holdouts or those who were noes voted yes. Massie was a yes. Flipped to no. Flipped back to yes. Debate is now on.”
House gets past test vote to begin debate on the Big, Beautiful Bill. Vote was 219-213. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA). All holdouts or those who were noes voted yes. Massie was a yes. Flipped to no. Flipped back to yes. Debate is now on
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) July 3, 2025
Pergram added:
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to What Happens Next With the Debate/Final Debate on the Big, Beautiful Bill
The House GOP leadership got members who were either noes on the procedural vote or had withheld their vote to cast their ballots. That triggered debate on the bill. That’s what is now unfolding on the House floor.
We expect the House to vote this for a little more than hour of actual clock time. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) may take advantage of a courtesy afforded to House leaders, known as the “Magic Minute.” The House yield to Jeffries for a minute – and then he can speak as long he wants. We are told that Jeffries may speak for up to an hour.
That could tee up a final vote sometime after 6 am et or so. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) suggested a final vote by “8:30 am et.” But they are on a glidepath to pass the bill now.
Also, keep in mind that this is the House accepting the Senate bill. The House is not altering the bill any further.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to What Happens Next With the Debate/Final Debate on the Big, Beautiful Bill
The House GOP leadership got members who were either noes on the procedural vote or had withheld their vote to cast their ballots. That triggered debate on the bill. That’s what…
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) July 3, 2025
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