US Senate Approves Trump's Divisive Spending Bill

It could still be upended by House Republicans concerned over its huge cost

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WASHINGTON - The Republican-led US Senate approved President Donald Trump's mammoth domestic policy Bill on July 1 by the narrowest of margins, despite misgivings over delivering deep welfare cuts and another US$3 trillion (S$3.8 trillion) in national debt.

Republican leaders had struggled to corral support during a record 24-hour "vote-a-rama" amendment session on the Senate floor, as Democrats offered dozens of challenges to the most divisive aspects of the package.

But Senate Majority Leader John Thune was able to turn around wavering moderates to deliver a 50-50 vote, with Vice-President J.D. Vance breaking the tie.

The sprawling text now heads to the House of Representatives, where it faces unified Democratic opposition and multiple Republicans baulking at the budget-busting costs, as well as slashed healthcare and food aid programmes for poor Americans.

Mr Trump's Bill proposes a US$4.5 trillion extension of his first-term tax cuts, contentiously offset with US$1.2 trillion in savings mainly targeting the Medicaid health insurance programme, as well as federal food aid.

The healthcare cuts could see an estimated 12 million low-income and disabled Americans lose coverage.