Senate clears hurdle on Trump’s tax-cut and spending bill

The U.S. Senate advanced President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax-cut and spending bill after Republicans resolved concerns over rural hospitals and state tax deductions.

U.S. Senate Republicans moved closer to advancing President Donald Trump’s signature tax and spending bill on Saturday, following last-minute changes to address concerns from key lawmakers.

The legislation, Trump’s top legislative priority, extends the 2017 tax cuts, introduces further tax reductions, and increases funding for the military and border security.

Senator John Barrasso, the Senate’s No. 2 Republican, said a first procedural vote could happen shortly, though it had not begun by 20:00 GMT as he anticipated.

Republicans control the Senate 53-47 and expect to overcome Democratic opposition, despite criticism that the bill’s tax breaks would favor the wealthy and swell the national debt.

Nonpartisan analysts estimate the House version would add about $3 trillion to the $36.2 trillion U.S. debt. A watchdog group projected the Senate version could add up to $4 trillion over the next decade.

Democrats, led by Senator Chuck Schumer, demanded that the full 940-page bill be read aloud on the Senate floor, a process likely to stretch overnight.

Business leader Elon Musk joined the criticism, calling the bill "utterly insane and destructive" on social media, warning it would cost jobs and harm the economy.

Republican Senators Josh Hawley and Susan Collins, after raising concerns over rural healthcare funding, said Saturday they were ready to move forward.

If the procedural vote passes, the Senate is expected to begin debating Democratic amendments, with final votes possibly extending into Sunday.

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