Many Republicans had harshly criticized President Trump’s marquee bill extending tax cuts and slashing social safety net programs — almost right up until the moment they voted for it.
Fiscal hawks have repeatedly threatened to bring down their party’s agenda out of debt fears, only to back down after pressure from party leaders and President Trump.
Representative Chip Roy, Republican of Texas, has said the Senate failed to improve a House bill that he described as a “mediocre but passable product.”
The Senate held an hourslong vote-a-thon on the legislation that stretched into the night as Republicans continued to grasp for the support to pass President Trump’s signature legislation.
Senator John Thune, the majority leader, on Saturday. Senate Republicans are seeking the votes to pass a sprawling domestic policy bill requested by President Trump.
New provisions that benefit whaling captains and rural hospitals appear to be aimed at winning over Senator Lisa Murkowski, the Alaska Republican who had said the bill would hurt her state.
Senator Murkowski arriving to the U.S. Capitol in Washington earlier this month. For weeks she had openly voiced her displeasure with how several provisions in the legislation could impact Alaskans.
Republican leaders barely scaled a key procedural hurdle to bring up the bill, but Democrats delayed its consideration and it was unclear whether the G.O.P. had the votes to pass it.
G.O.P. leaders in the Senate are trying to quickly pass the legislation and send it to the House for final approval in time to meet the July 4 deadline that President Trump has set.
The sweeping measure Senate Republican leaders hope to pass has many unpopular elements they despise. But they face a political reckoning on taxes and the scorn of the president if they fail.
Senator John Thune, the majority leader, taking questions at the Capitol this week. Republican leaders are working overtime to rally their members to support the package.
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