Reporter's Notebook: Why the Senate is unlikely to debate the 'big, beautiful bill' until next week

Senate Republicans appear likely to delay President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful bill" vote until June 22, potentially jeopardizing passage through both chambers before his July 4th deadline.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune was "adamant" about supporting President Donald Trump's agenda as leader, one senator said. (Reuters)

Senators and Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough will then begin the process of weeding out provisions that do not comport with strict Senate Budget provisions. That’s why the plan probably isn’t ready for debate and a "vote-a-rama" until the week after next. 

If the Senate advances the bill, the House will have a tight window to either accept the Senate changes and green-light the bill before July 4 – or bounce it back to the Senate with yet another set of changes.

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The Senate plans to vote on President Donald Trump's big, beautiful bill. (istock)

Such a scenario would most certainly stretch out the process beyond the July 4 deadline. It would also compel the Senate to take a fourth vote-a-rama in just a matter of months. That’s where the Senate votes for hours on end with one roll call after another.

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Keep in mind that July 4 is merely an aspirational deadline, not a hard one. The true deadline is early August. That’s when the Treasury Department says the U.S. will collide with the debt ceiling. A debt ceiling increase is part of the big, beautiful bill.

Chad Pergram currently serves as a senior congressional correspondent for FOX News Channel (FNC). He joined the network in September 2007 and is based out of Washington, D.C.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/reporters-notebook-why-senate-unlikely-debate-big-beautiful-bill-until-next-week