MAGA Supporters Upset Over Senate Decisions on Big Beautiful Bill

Supporters of the MAGA movement are expressing anger about how Senators are dictating the contents of the Republican-led Senate’s Big Beautiful Bill (BBB). Many feel that John Toon, the current majority leader, needs to tackle this issue differently.

The assembly, established under guidelines ratified by two-thirds of the Senate, appoints a majority leader who isn’t just a passive observer among sitting senators. Job statements are meant to guide Senate procedures, but they seem to be enforced in a partisan manner.

Elizabeth McDonough, the current Senate parliamentarian, was appointed back in 2012 by then-majority leader Harry Reid. She isn’t restricted and will stay in her position until she either resigns or is replaced. Although her performance typically aligns with Senate rules from a neutral perspective, that hasn’t been the case lately.

For example, there was a belief that certain elements of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) could be revisited. However, using a special Senate process known as reconciliation, it turns out rolling back some IRA provisions is pretty much off the table.

This complicates matters for those looking to roll back climate-related spending cuts already approved by the House. It seems they would need 60 Senate votes and a simple majority under the reconciliation process.

The Congressional decision appears tangled in a mix of arbitrariness and hypocrisy. This ruling is disheartening for voters, especially considering they elected Donald Trump and a Republican-led Senate to move the BBB forward.

Questions arise about why the older rules dictated by Harry Reid influence what Republicans can or can’t support. Why isn’t Leader Toon just easing McDonough out, exercising his rightful authority?

Instead of replacing members directly, Thune sought a procedural workaround last month, stripping California of its ability to set electric vehicle orders through the Senate Review Act (CRA). Despite this, McDonough disapproved the vote.

However, the BBB is more complex than the CRA vote, and while Thune might sidestep Congressional members again, the feasibility of that is uncertain.

Replacing McDonough seems unlikely; doing so might open a whole new set of issues that could jeopardize the BBB. Plus, Thune seems hesitant to alter Senate rules over concerns about reopening discussions on crucial filibuster regulations.

It would really be straightforward for lawmakers to re-evaluate and recognize that what benefits one side should benefit the other. After all, Democrats maneuvered the IRA through a divided Senate via reconciliation, utilizing Kamala Harris’ tiebreaker. Republicans ought to be able to do the same for any rollbacks.

It seems doubtful that this will happen, leaving Thune faced with the dilemma of either navigating around her or relying on the backing of Senate Republicans. It’s a significant challenge he’s undertaken, especially since he sought the role of majority leader. Now, he has to face the reality of that position.