Thune threatens to nix July 4 recess to finish work on Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) on Wednesday said he would keep senators in Washington during the July 4 recess week to complete work on the GOP’s “one big, beautiful bill” by the self-imposed deadline.

When asked on Wednesday morning if the GOP would work through the recess if the bill is not passed beforehand, Thune answered in the affirmative. 

“Yes,” he said. 

Republicans have remained bullish that they will be able to complete work on the massive piece of legislation by June 27, though the party still has to hit key checkpoints on the road to that goal.

Senators are slated to be back in their home states from June 28 through July 6. 

Senate committees this week are rolling out key portions of the mammoth bill, with the Finance and Agriculture panels being among the most anticipated ones that remain unreleased. Those sections of the bill contain some of the most hotly contested issues that could stymie its progress.

More pressing, though, is there still remain a number of holdouts on the bill — including Sens. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) — as the Senate GOP tries to nail down key items, including on spending cuts, Medicaid and renewable energy tax credits, among other items. 

Senate Republicans can afford to lose three votes on the final bill, with that total already at two as Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has made clear his opposition over the inclusion of a $4 trillion debt ceiling hike. 

After changes are completed in the upper chamber, the bill will need to head back to the House for final passage before it goes to the Resolute Desk for President Trump’s signature.