Thune’s Tightrope: Uniting Senate GOP for Trump’s Big, Beautiful Bill by July 4

Senate Majority Leader John Thune is navigating a stormy Senate GOP to push President Donald Trump’s ambitious legislative package, dubbed the "big, beautiful bill," to the finish line by July 4. In an exclusive chat from his leadership suite, the South Dakota Republican emphasized the urgency of meeting this deadline, even if it means working through the holiday week. "Deadlines keep us focused," Thune quipped, "otherwise, we’d still be debating last century’s budget."

The bill, a sprawling mix of priorities, aims to cement Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, overhaul healthcare, slash Biden-era energy credits, and enact deep spending reductions. Senate Republicans have been hammering out details since early June, with Thune eyeing a floor vote by mid-next week. But corralling his party’s factions is proving trickier than herding cats.

Fiscal hawks, led by Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, are digging in their heels, demanding at least $2 trillion in spending cuts over a decade—ideally reverting to pre-COVID spending levels. Meanwhile, Sens. Susan Collins, Josh Hawley, and Lisa Murkowski are raising alarms over Medicaid tweaks that could squeeze rural hospitals and low-income workers. Thune, who can afford to lose only three votes, called it a quest for the "sweet spot" to keep everyone on board.

To ease tensions, Thune’s been in constant talks with the White House and his colleagues, while Collins is crafting a provider relief fund to cushion Medicaid changes. The bill’s crackdown on the Medicaid provider tax rate—slashing it to 3.5% in some states—has sparked debate. Thune defended the move, noting that states like New York have "gamed" the system, but promised a "soft landing" for rural hospitals.

Yet, the Senate’s work is only half the battle. The bill must also pass muster with the House, where blue-state Republicans are fuming over the unchanged $10,000 cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions. Sen. Markwayne Mullin is working on a compromise, but Senate enthusiasm for raising the cap is lukewarm, with Thune noting it pits high-tax states against low-tax ones.

As the Senate Parliamentarian scrutinizes the bill for compliance with budget rules, Thune vowed not to override her rulings but hinted at taking cues from Democrats’ aggressive use of reconciliation to pass Biden’s agenda. "We’re pushing the envelope to get as much of our agenda through as possible," he said.

With time ticking, Thune’s baby steps may lead to a legislative sprint—or a stumble—if he can’t unify his party behind Trump’s vision.