Dispute over Trump’s tax law: Marathon speech in the US Congress-Democrat brakes vote

The leading democratic MP Hakeem Jeffries has been talking to the US Congress for hours to delay a vote beyond the tax and expenditure law promoted by President Donald Trump. The minority leader of the Democrats began to speak in the plenary hall of the House of Representatives after a nightly marathon session in the early morning (local time) – now he has been talking for more than six hours. Jeffries made no secret of his intentions: he would take all the time, “in the interest of the American people”.

The minority leader traditionally enjoys the right to speak as long as he wants. Although this is not expressly anchored in the rules of parliament, this is considered a common practice. There is informally talking about a “Magic Minute”, ie a “magical minute” that can be extended as desired. In the past, it was used again and again strategically to set an example with important votes and symbolically delay the decision. In this way, voting cannot be completely prevented.

According to the “New York Times”, Jeffries’ is already the third longest in the history of the House of Representatives. The record is therefore more than eight and a half hours. It is the second time in Trump’s second term that a democrat in the congress with a marathon speech provides attention. A few months ago, the Senator Cory Booker had set a record in the Senate with a more than 25-hour speech against the Republican’s policy.

The law, which is known under the name “One Big Beautiful Bill” (“A large, beautiful law”), has already passed the Senate. As soon as Jeffries ends his speech, voting in the House of Representatives. Trump wants the package to land on his desk until this Friday – July 4, the American Independence Day. The law is intended to permanently extend tax relief from Trump’s first term. This is to be financed, among other things, by cuts in social benefits, which is due to the Democrats of violent criticism.