Thune Determined to Meet Trump's July 4 Megabill Deadline

Despite seemingly significant challenges remaining, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., remains focused on getting the "one, big, beautiful bill" to President Donald Trump's desk by July Fourth.

Any changes made to the legislation that passed the House will need to go back to the lower chamber for approval. To do that, Thune and GOP Senate leadership need to appease members of their conference, as well as the chamber's parliamentarian.

Thune, though, vowed on social media that senators "will remain here" in Washington "until this reconciliation bill is passed."

"By placing this historic bill on @POTUS's desk by the Fourth of July, Republicans will be ensuring that future generations of Americans can live in safety and prosperity," Thune posted Monday on X.

Disagreements among Republicans remain concerning as senators race to work out such issues as Medicaid and renewable energy before Thune brings the bill to the Senate floor on Thursday or Friday, The Hill reported.

During a closed-door meeting Monday night, Thune told GOP senators the Senate would follow the House's lead by not changing the share of Medicaid costs the federal government pays for those enrolled under the program's 2010 expansion, Politico reported.

There also was discussion of including a fund to help offset the impact to rural hospitals due to other Medicaid changes in the Senate bill.

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said the Medicaid provisions still need "work."

"I think it could get done over the course of a few days but probably not by Thursday," Tillis said, The Hill reported.

Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., told colleagues he's talking with House Republicans about raising the state and local taxes (SALT) deduction cap, Politico reported. Republican lawmakers from blue states are seeking to raise the deduction cap from $10,000 to $40,000.

Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough already ruled that some provisions in the bill are not eligible to be approved through reconciliation, which requires a simple majority to pass.

She said Republicans cannot use the bill to overturn landmark rules to drastically reduce vehicle emissions and boost EV sales or force the U.S. Postal Service to scrap thousands of electric vehicles and charging equipment.

MacDonough also said provisions to place a funding cap on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, slash pay of Federal Reserve staff, cut $293 million by reducing the Treasury's Office of Financial Research, and dissolve the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board are all ineligible to be included in the reconciliation bill.