Cautious optimism is warranted, however it looks like Senate Majority Leader John Thune is pushing hard to hit the deadlines set by President Trump for passage of the Big Beautiful Bill (BBB) reconciliation package.
Speaking today right before a meeting with House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senator Thune noted he is optimistic the Senate can finalize their negotiations on the BBB over the next two days, setting up the Senate to hold their first cloture votes on Friday and a vote-a-rama through the weekend.
President Trump is still assisting Leader Thune with phone calls to Senate republicans between foreign policy engagements. Trump is only staying in the Netherlands for 24 hours so he can quickly get back to DC to assist in any arm-twisting needed by Thune or Johnson.
According to Politico, House Speaker Mike Johnson has cautioned House representatives to stay in town this weekend and be prepared to reconcile both bills and vote on the package as soon as it exits the Senate. As many of you are aware, this is a critical legislative package containing a large amount of President Trump’s America First policy priorities.
As things stand right now, it looks like Thune is going to try and get the package into voting position on Friday, with immediate votes to take place. We are critical of Thune when warranted, but should also appreciate the work of the Majority Leader when he is structurally supportive of the MAGA agenda.
(Via Axios) – Senate Majority Leader John Thune expects to start voting Friday on President Trump’s “one big, beautiful bill,” he told Axios in an exclusive interview on Tuesday.
Why it matters: This would have them voting into the weekend, and it would upend the House’s recess next week. But Thune (R-S.D.) is confident Congress will meet its self-imposed July 4 deadline to get a bill on Trump’s desk.
Thune said Friday was looking more likely for an initial vote than Thursday, setting up the potential for a weekend slog.
“I think we get on it, and then we will plow through, and we’ll get into vote-a-rama and grind it out until — until whenever,” the leader said. “It’s just the nature of the beast at the end.”
Johnson told House Republicans “not to leave town” this weekend in case the Senate gets a bill passed, Politico reported Tuesday. (read more)
We anticipate that once the BBB is completed, obviously there will be a celebration – a news cycle for the White House and legislative leadership to promote & celebrate, and then President Trump will likely shift straight into the details of the trade agreements being constructed in the background by Secretary Lutnick, Secretary Bessent and USTR Jamieson Greer.
As the trade aspect is underway from the oval office, expect Secretary Rubio and Steve Witkoff to be reengaged with Ukraine-Russia. By mid July we should see multiple announcements of trade agreements, while simultaneously the foreign policy focus of Rubio and Witkoff should start to materialize into substantive change.
