Congress Tackles the 'Game of Death': Trump's Big, Beautiful Bill Takes Center Stage

The House and Senate are embarking on a marathon journey to approve President Donald Trump’s "big, beautiful bill"—a sweeping proposal aimed at slashing taxes, curbing spending, and likely raising the debt ceiling. While actual approval is still months away, the process is now intensifying.

On Thursday, the Senate voted to proceed with a restructured budget framework—a critical step in this labyrinthine process. This framework utilizes special budget rules to dodge a filibuster, which could otherwise doom the bill.

Enter the "vote-a-rama," a uniquely Senate tradition of all-night voting marathons. Senators slog through amendment after amendment, often for 10-15 hours straight. The record? A grueling 44 roll call votes back in 2008. Essentially, it’s democracy with a side of sleep deprivation.

Republicans aim to push through this phase quickly, though some conservative members may throw in amendments to further trim the debt or tweak the debt ceiling. Meanwhile, Democrats are likely to offer amendments targeting hot-button issues like Medicare cuts, Medicaid adjustments, or even tariffs, all designed to put Republicans in vulnerable positions.

Why start this ordeal late on a Thursday? Timing matters. Senate insiders suggest that beginning late in the week might abbreviate the vote-a-rama's length. Sure, it’ll still be exhausting—but slightly less brutal.

The Senate’s current motion represents step three in a daunting eight-step legislative process. February’s actions—where the Senate and House each approved differing budget outlines—were steps one and two. Now, the Senate's updated budget blueprint heads to the House, potentially sparking further debates and adjustments.

House Speaker Mike Johnson seems optimistic, buoyed by the recent swearing-in of new Representatives Jimmy Patronis and Randy Fine from Florida. With a slightly wider margin in the House, Johnson noted, "We can lose, what, three votes now or something." That confidence is likely welcome after a turbulent week that forced him to shut the House down following internal disputes.

Assuming the House aligns with the Senate framework, Congress graduates to steps five and six, where the real heavy lifting begins: debating and passing the actual bill. Spoiler alert—another vote-a-rama is almost inevitable.

And after that? Steps seven and eight might require yet another round of votes to reconcile House and Senate differences. In short, don’t expect this "big, beautiful bill" to cross the finish line before summer.

For those keeping score, the legislative process is reminiscent of Bruce Lee’s unfinished 1973 film, "The Game of Death." In the movie, Lee ascends a multi-level pagoda, battling increasingly skilled martial artists guarding each floor. Similarly, Congressional Republicans are scaling their own parliamentary pagoda, facing tougher obstacles at each step. With the third floor now in sight, the climb is only getting harder.