Senate Republicans Face Challenges Over Legislative Votes

WASHINGTON – On Tuesday morning, Senate Republicans found themselves in a bit of a stalemate. Party leadership was struggling to secure the necessary votes for the so-called “big and beautiful bill” after more than a day of relentless debate.

Key votes seem to hinge on Maine Senator Susan Collins and Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski. However, Kentucky’s Rand Paul and North Carolina’s Tom Tillis have already stated they won’t back the legislation. Without both Collins and Murkowski on board, the GOP can’t afford to lose either, especially since they hold a narrow majority of 53 seats.

Murkowski and Whip John Barrasso exited the room around 9:30 AM to catch an elevator. When Markowski was asked about the bill’s fate, she quipped that it was perhaps more in the hands of those operating coffee machines. Barrasso, on the other hand, confirmed he would be passing the bill that morning.

Vice President JD Vance arrived at Capitol Hill shortly after sunrise, urging that the proposed legislation be sent to the House of Representatives for final approval. If it comes to a tie, they would need the House to break it.

Should all four Republican senators vote against the bill, GOP leadership would have to revisit different aspects of the legislation. But this could also alienate other Republicans and complicate things even more.

If they fail to pass the package by Tuesday or even Wednesday, that would mean missing a deadline before July 4, thereby losing the chance for President Donald Trump to sign it into law.

Trump’s Take on the Situation

Trump shared his thoughts with reporters on Tuesday, mentioning he planned to visit Florida’s “Crocodile Alcatraz” immigration detention site. When discussing the intricate negotiations over spending cuts, he acknowledged, “It’s very complicated.” He expressed a desire to see the final version, stating that while he didn’t favor cuts, there were aspects he found beneficial.

Central to the bill, which spans about 1,000 pages, is an expansion of the 2017 tax reform aimed at maintaining current individual income tax rates while also solidifying tax credits for business investments and R&D costs. The legislation also reflects some of Trump’s campaign promises, although not without caveats, such as no taxes on overtime or car loan interest.

It proposes cuts to Medicaid programs for low-income individuals and those with disabilities, and for the first time shifts significant costs of the federal nutrition assistance program to state governments.

After passing through the Senate, the bill would still require a final House vote, which isn’t guaranteed. GOP Speaker Mike Johnson can only afford to lose four Republican votes if everyone is present for the vote, and there’s evident discontent among some party members regarding how the Senate has reshaped the legislation.

Speaker Jason Smith mentioned that they aimed to finalize the bill by the July 4 deadline, despite repeatedly stating that it wouldn’t pass without proper scrutiny. “The Senate will pass it. The House will pass it. The president will sign it into law,” he claimed.

Amendments Adopted

The Senate adopted three amendments to the bill during an overnight voting session dubbed the llama vote. Tennessee Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn successfully removed provisions that would have restricted state and local governments from regulating artificial intelligence for five years if they wanted to tap into a $500 million fund. Only Tillis voted to keep the original language.

Blackburn argued the change was essential as lawmakers should not legislate on emerging technologies. Furthermore, an amendment proposed by Iowa’s Joni Ernst disqualified individuals earning over $1 million from receiving unemployment support.

Additionally, Senator John Kennedy managed to expedite a provision mandating Medicaid administrators to check death records for eligibility before adding new subscribers, moving the deadline from 2028 to the following year.

Numerous amendments from both sides were rejected, with some ending in 50-50 votes. Collins and Murkowski have frequently broken ranks with their party to vote alongside Democrats.

Failed Proposals

Hawaii Senator Mazie Hirono attempted to eliminate a significant private school voucher program included in the settlement package, but that proposal also failed. The original plan proposed a $4 billion annual tax credit starting in 2027 for donations to private and religious school scholarship organizations.

Last week, a modified version was discussed to avoid violating Senate rules, and details about the final proposal remain unclear as the text has not been finalized.

Virginia Airport Safety Funds

Virginia Senator Mark Warner unsuccessfully sought to add provisions increasing safety funding for airports around D.C. and establishing a memorial for victims of a recent crash. The vote was tied, with Collins and Murkowski siding with Democrats.

Warner highlighted the urgency for improved airport safety following a tragic incident earlier in the year. He argued that increases in governmental rents at airports should directly benefit aviation safety.

In response, Texas Senator Ted Cruz noted that increases in airport rents haven’t occurred for decades, suggesting that the legislation would help rectify this mismatch.

Targeting the Budget Office

Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen attempted to remove a section from the bill that would boost funding for the White House Budget Office by $100 million. Van Hollen pointed out that many critical states and local grants are currently stalled.

In defense of the amendment, Senator Ron Johnson claimed that more resources were necessary for the Office of Management and Budget to operate effectively. Ultimately, this amendment did not pass following another tie vote.

Collins’ Local Hospital Funding Proposal

Collins highlighted her efforts to secure increased funding for the Rural Health Provider Fund, but her amendment faced procedural hurdles, ultimately failing to garner enough support.

She proposed reallocating funds through adjustments to tax rates for high earners. Notably, several Republicans supported her initiative, although opposition arose from some Democrats who framed the proposal as insufficient in addressing broader Medicaid cuts.

Collins received mixed backing from various Republican senators, indicating a complex web of alliances and disagreements regarding healthcare funding.