Banks Backs Trump’s Megabill Ahead of Senate Vote-a-rama

WASHINGTON — Sen. Jim Banks says now is the time to act.

The Indiana Republican is calling on the Senate to pass President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” a broad package that includes major tax cuts and spending reforms. The Senate is preparing to begin a fast-paced series of amendment votes Monday morning, known as a vote-a-rama, where senators take up dozens of proposed changes in a single session.

“This is an easy vote for all members of the Senate, Republicans and Democrats,” Banks said. “The biggest tax cut for working-class families in American history and the biggest spending cut Congress has ever passed.”

Banks pointed to his own family as an example of who the bill is meant to help.

“My dad is a retired union factory worker, my brothers, my cousins, they’re all working class, and they all voted for Donald Trump because he’s the best friend that working-class Americans have ever had,” he said. “And this tax cut fulfills his promise on the campaign trail to cut them. That’s why we have to pass it.”

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The Senate will spend up to 20 hours debating the bill before voting begins. Democrats are expected to use their full 10 hours while Republicans may not use theirs.

Since the bill is moving under budget reconciliation rules, it only needs a simple majority to pass. That process allows for the vote-a-rama, where senators can introduce as many amendments as they want and each gets a vote. These voting marathons often run well into the night.

The Senate parliamentarian has already ruled that some parts of the bill do not qualify under reconciliation, and more changes could be made before a final vote.

If the Senate passes the bill, it will return to the House for another vote. Lawmakers there will need to approve the Senate’s changes. The House passed its original version by just one vote last week. Republican leaders say the earliest the House could take another vote is Wednesday morning.