Trump’s Big Bill and Democratic Strategy

Lawrence Jones, a contributor at Fox News, stated during Wednesday’s “Five People” segment that Democrats could have achieved their goals if they had negotiated with President Donald Trump regarding his “big, beautiful bill.”

Following intense budget discussions, the Senate approved Trump’s bill with a narrow 51-50 vote on Tuesday. Notably, North Carolina’s Richard Burr, Kentucky’s Rand Paul, and Maine’s Susan Collins voted against it. Jones criticized the Democrats for what he described as theatrical maneuvers, suggesting they have become “crippled parties.”

“Looking at all this, I think we can now label them as stunts. I previously thought Democrats weren’t so ineffective. Republicans have some valid ideas but, well, maybe the Democrats just took a different approach,” Jones remarked.

He expressed a desire for more spending cuts, acknowledging the reality of the situation. “This is a party that seems to struggle with creativity,” he continued. Jones mentioned Lisa Murkowski, whom he disagrees with politically, yet recognized her ability to negotiate effectively. He pointed out that Democrats could have presented proposals to the president in exchange for their support of the bill.

Since May, Republican lawmakers have been advocating for Trump’s legislation, with its initial approval occurring on May 22, following a tight vote in the House of Representatives. Some GOP members, like Kentucky’s Thomas Massey and Ohio’s Warren Davidson, have faced pushback from within their own party.

As the Senate vote approached, concerns emerged from Republicans such as Rand Paul and Ron Johnson, specifically regarding issues linked to Biden’s green energy subsidies, Medicaid reforms, and the Inflation Reduction Act.

Democrats have responded strongly on social media. Washington’s Pramila Jayapal claimed that constituents were “sobbing” over their disapproval of the bill. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries even shared a photo on Instagram of himself holding a bat, emphasizing Democratic resistance against what he called Trump’s “ugly bill.”

“Democrats don’t seem to desire victory; they prefer being a party of resistance,” Jones added.

In a discussion with Dana Perino, co-host of “The Five,” who suggested that Democrats might include provisions for “dreamers” and undocumented students, Jones agreed. He also predicted that in the next election cycle, they would run on the same issues, likely leading to the same outcomes.

The Senate bill is set to return to the House, with hopes of reaching Trump’s desk by July 4. However, some GOP House members are determined to delay it in order to push for significant spending and tax cuts along with Medicaid reforms.