Here’s how Pa. senators voted on the procedural step for Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’

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As the votes were counted late Saturday night, Pennsylvania’s two senators were added to each side of the ledger, passing a crucial procedural step in President Donald Trump’s massive, exquisite bill.

The administration pushed hard to get the package of tax breaks, budget cuts, and more deportation funds to the president for signature before July 4th, but it barely passed.

Democratic Senator John Fetterman voted against it, while Republican Senator Dave McCormick voted in favor.

Since casting their ballots, neither has left a comment on X, which was formerly Twitter.

Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, both Republicans, joined all Democrats in opposing the vote, which came out to 51-49.

Party leaders rushed to settle internal conflicts, causing the procedural vote on Saturday to be postponed for hours. Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Rick Scott of Florida, Mike Lee of Utah, and Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming were among the few Republicans who abstained from voting, leaving the bill in limbo on the floor for three hours.

In the end, they were persuaded by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and other Republican leaders, setting up a vote on the final passage this week.

The full law was read aloud on the Senate floor by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., starting Saturday evening and continuing until Sunday afternoon.

Following that, senators will have the opportunity to make as many amendments as they like before a final vote, which may last up to 20 hours.

In an interview with WGAL 8 late last week, McCormick stated that prolonging the 2017 tax cuts that were scheduled to expire at the end of this year and reining in government spending, especially Medicaid expenditures, were his top priorities with the legislation.

With a $37 trillion debt, a $2 trillion deficit, and an annual interest payment of trillions of dollars, it’s equivalent to a family earning $50,000 and spending $75,000 annually. He stated that it is not sustainable.

The Republican senator said that the Medicaid reforms, which might result in hundreds of thousands of people losing their coverage, would guarantee that those who actually need it—such as the elderly, young people, and those with disabilities—will still be able to get it.

During a press conference at the White House on Friday, Trump referred to Fetterman as the most reasonable Democratic senator and advised him to support the Republican budget proposal that is now being debated in the Senate.

Although Fetterman did not immediately address Trump’s remarks on social media, he has persisted in opposing the measure, pointing to cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid.

Fetterman stated on X/Twitter on June 4 that almost 300,000 Pennsylvanians would no longer be covered by Medicaid. Energy bills for Pennsylvania families would increase by up to $1200. The United States would lose $50 billion as domestic manufacturing tax benefits will be eliminated. And now there’s this enormous deficit. I’m a NO once more.

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