WASHINGTON – House Republicans defended a bill that would enact sweeping tax cuts, raise the debt ceiling, and add restrictions to benefit programs during a heated marathon day of committee hearings on Capitol Hill.

Senior Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee were caught off guard by Medicaid provisions in their own bill.

The House GOP released its plan to cut Medicaid spending and much of former President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act with billions on climate spending.

Republicans and Democrats grew weary in the early hours of Wednesday morning on Capitol Hill as they slogged through at-times contentious debate over provisions in President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax and spending cuts package.