Vice President JD Vance has arrived at the Capitol amid a vote-a-rama that has stretched more than 20 hours, as Republicans continue trying to nail down the necessary votes for passage of President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill.
When asked by reporters whether the upper chamber will finish the bill on Tuesday, Vance said, “We’re going to find out.”
VP VANCE is on the hill
— Kelly Phares (@kellyfphares) July 1, 2025
do you think you can get this over the finish line today?
Vance: we’re going to find out pic.twitter.com/M53kswCS8K
As Fox News’ Chad Pergram reports, the VP may be there to be the tie-breaking vote as Senate Majority Leader John Thune has struggled to win the support of moderate GOP senators, given Sens. Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Rand Paul of Kentucky have already expressed their opposition to the measure. Or, Vance "may be needed to broker a final deal and get reluctant GOPers to vote yes on the final version,” Pergram said.
Vance arrives at the Capitol amid vote-a-rama. May be needed to break a tie on the Big, Beautiful Bill. But he may be needed to broker a final deal and get reluctant GOPers to vote yes on the final version. Fox is told they are short on votes now.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) July 1, 2025
The focus now appears to be on winning over Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.
The Alaska senator has been the subject of an intense whip effort by GOP leaders over the past couple of hours as they try to offer her reassurances on Medicaid and food assistance. Thune, Finance Chair Mike Crapo and Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso talked to Murkowski on the floor for roughly an hour overnight. Thune and Murkowski huddled briefly in his office, and they were mum on details when they emerged shortly before 4 a.m.
Just moments ago, the Senate parliamentarian ruled that proposed SNAP carve-outs for Alaska and other states are compliant with the Byrd rule, Jordain reports. But Republicans have struggled to get approval for a Medicaid provision also aimed at Murkowski’s home state.
Murkowski is also among the Republicans who have been pushing an amendment to undo the rollback of clean-energy credits under the Biden-era climate law. (Politico)
🚨 JUST IN: VP JD Vance has just arrived at the Capitol to break a possible tie on the Big Beautiful Bill
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) July 1, 2025
Republicans are currently sitting at four no votes and can only afford three, with Vance as the tiebreaker.
Leadership is currently attempting to flip Lisa Murkowski. pic.twitter.com/bJ6dBhHETD
As Pergram also noted, the ongoing vote-a-rama is continuing because Republicans are still working on getting the necessary votes to pass the OBBB.
If the Senate had the votes to pass the Big, Beautiful Bill, they would have voted hours ago. That may change. But this is why the vote-a-rama has run for nearly 22 hours. https://t.co/s2GKJDuONj
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) July 1, 2025