Senate passes GOP megabill after Alaska side deal
The pivotal yes vote came from Sen. Lisa Murkowski, whose support was secured following negotiated side deals for her home state Alaska


What happened
After an all-night voting session, the Senate Tuesday narrowly passed President Donald Trump's "Big Beautiful" tax bill, sending the measure back to the House for a final vote. Three Republican senators — Rand Paul (Ky.), Susan Collins (Maine) and Thom Tillis (N.C.) — joined all 47 Democrats in opposing the bill, forcing Vice President J.D. Vance to break the tie, 51-50. But the pivotal yes vote came from Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), whose support was secured after hours of negotiations that resulted in several side deals for her home state.
Who said what
Trump's tax bill will "extend and expand tax cuts and provide new funding for border security, immigration enforcement and the military," said The New York Times, and despite steep cuts to "Medicaid, food aid benefits, student aid and clean energy programs," it will "still add trillions to deficits over the next decade."
The bill, dubbed the "Big Ugly Betrayal Bill" by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), was expected to be the GOP's "marquee legislative achievement" ahead of next year's midterms, Politico said. The "starkly regressive" legislation contains some "populist flourishes," The Washington Post said, and to win Murkowski's support, it was "loaded with benefits for Alaska, including a special tax break for whaling captains" and special carveouts for Medicaid and food assistance.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
After the vote, Murkowski told reporters it was "probably the most difficult and agonizing legislative 24-hour period that I have encountered" in 23 years in the Senate, "but I held my head up and made sure the people of Alaska are not forgotten in this." Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said his Alaska colleague "knows how to use her leverage," while Paul criticized his fellow Republicans for adding "more pork and subsidies for Alaska to secure that vote."
What next?
The bill now returns to the similarly divided House, where the Senate's extensive "alterations" have "irritated multiple factions of Republicans," said The Wall Street Journal. With voting expected to start as early as today, said Politico, Republicans are moving "down to the wire on their self-imposed July 4 deadline" for getting the bill to Trump.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Rafi Schwartz has worked as a politics writer at The Week since 2022, where he covers elections, Congress and the White House. He was previously a contributing writer with Mic focusing largely on politics, a senior writer with Splinter News, a staff writer for Fusion's news lab, and the managing editor of Heeb Magazine, a Jewish life and culture publication. Rafi's work has appeared in Rolling Stone, GOOD and The Forward, among others.
-
Will online age checks doom internet freedom?
Today's Big Question Or do they protect children from harm?
-
At least 800 dead in Afghanistan earthquake
speed read A magnitude 6.0 earthquake hit a mountainous region of eastern Afghanistan
-
Trump crypto token launch earns family billions
Speed Read The World Liberty Financial token is now the Trump family's 'most valuable asset'
-
Trump crypto token launch earns family billions
Speed Read The World Liberty Financial token is now the Trump family's 'most valuable asset'
-
Did Trump just push India into China's arms?
Today's Big Question Tariffs disrupt American efforts to align with India
-
RFK Jr. names new CDC head as staff revolt
Speed Read Kennedy installed his deputy, Jim O'Neill, as acting CDC director
-
Why is Trump suddenly interested in his enemies' mortgages?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the president continues targeting adversaries, he's turned to a surprising ally to provide ammunition for an emerging line of attack
-
DC prosecutors lose bid to indict sandwich thrower
Speed Read Prosecutors sought to charge Sean Dunn with assaulting a federal officer
-
White House fires new CDC head amid agency exodus
Speed Read CDC Director Susan Monarez was ousted after butting heads with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccines
-
DOGE put Social Security data at risk, official says
Speed Read DOGE workers made the personal information of hundreds of millions of Americans vulnerable to identity theft
-
Court rejects Trump suit against Maryland US judges
Speed Read Judge Thomas Cullen, a Trump appointee, said the executive branch had no authority to sue the judges