Trump's 'big, beautiful' tax Bill blocked by House Republicans over cost concerns

A key US House committee on May 16 failed to advance House Republicans' massive tax-and-spending Bill after hardline conservatives bucked President Donald Trump and blocked the Bill over cost concerns.

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WASHINGTON - A key US House committee on May 16 failed to advance House Republicans' massive tax-and-spending Bill after hardline conservatives bucked President Donald Trump and blocked the Bill over cost concerns.

The House Budget Committee rejected the Bill in a 21-16 vote, with Republican Representatives Chip Roy, Ralph Norman, Josh Brecheen, Lloyd Smucker and Andrew Clyde joining Democrats to vote against it. The five hardliners demanded deeper cuts to Medicaid and other government programmes.

It is incredibly rare for Bills to fail at this step in the process, with the committee vote typically serving as a rubber stamp before the Bill moves to the House floor. The panel can still approve the Bill at a later date.

Negotiations will continue through the weekend, with the committee planning to meet again late on May 18.

Mr Trump, whose social media muscle and calls to lawmakers have previously been crucial to advancing his priorities, inserted himself in the debate less than two hours before the vote, berating dissidents and urging them to fall in line.