So here I am running through all of these blockbuster amendments the Senate Republicans are adding to President Trump’s massive piece of legislation. It’s a large overhaul, not a small one; it’s a tremendous redo. There is a great deal of material here—from green energy subsidies and reductions in Medicaid to education, children’s assistance, and even state and local tax. Let me walk myself through all of these points.
Crapo’s push to revamp the bill
Mike Crapo, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, is the main person making these modifications. His team closed their doors and spent days negotiating how much to cut, how much to keep, and what to add. Now we’re seeing a dramatic reshaping of the original bill that the House rushed through last month.
For me, the most striking change is how much Crapo is slowing down some of the cuts and adding new benefits. He would slow the phase-out of green energy tax incentives—something that many hardline Republicans do not care for — while cutting more out of Medicaid than centrist members wish to. It’s a delicate line, and it speaks to the internal struggles within the GOP itself.
Adjustments to Trump’s priorities
It’s political, not policy. President Trump made sure he left his fingerprints on this bill, but now Crapo is backing off some of his ambitions. The suggestion to create a huge tax incentive for tips and overtime pay is now capped at $25,000 and $12,500, respectively. That’s far lower than what was originally suggested. But to reassure the president, Crapo is adding a bigger seniors’ cut—something Trump insisted he do.
The SALT deduction and college tax credit question
The state and local tax (SALT) deduction is a doozy in this battle. The House raised its cap to $40,000, but Crapo is keeping it at the current $10,000 — what lawmakers refer to as a compromise as they haggle. Also, the 1.4% tax on college endowments drops to as low as 8% under Crapo’s proposal, down from 21% as initially envisaged by the House. That is a win for education lobbyists who were appalled by the original draft.
Other key changes that dropped my jaw
Several other changes are also significant. The Child Tax Credit, for example, falls from $2,500 under the House bill to $2,200 under Crapo. There is also an expanded $2,000 deduction for married couples who donate to charities, although this comes at the expense of a new limit on those claiming itemized deductions.
Meanwhile, companies will be pleased that a couple of popular breaks—previously slated to expire — are now permanent fixtures. But the small businesses expecting additional breaks under the House version will be disappointed.
Final thoughts — Will it pass in time?
The million-dollar question lingering in my mind is whether this new legislation has a prayer to pass the Senate in time. GOP lawmakers would like to have it on Trump’s desk by the Fourth of July recess, but before that there are a lot of battles to be had—not to mention hard-right Republicans and centrists who could resist some of these changes. And although the process lets Republicans pass it without Democratic votes, opposition by players like Sen. Ron Wyden suggests that the battle is far from finished.
Meanwhile, even Republican members like Sen. Josh Hawley are already showing doubts—arguing the cuts come at the cost of renewable energy and rural hospitals. That kind of opposition even within the GOP itself is a sign of just how close to the edge this is.
So here I am, guessing whether or not this “one, big, beautiful bill” will make it through or if it will be an ugly Senate floor fight in the days to come.
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