According to a former US senator, the last thing Republican members of Congress want is to participate in a floor vote that would allow the US Treasury to place Donald Trump’s face on a new $250 bill at a time when Americans can’t afford to pay for food and gas.
Appearing on MS NOW on Friday morning, an amused ex-Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) watched a clip of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent blow off concerns about the proposal and state the president was deserving of the honor.
As she pointed out, the only way it could happen is via a vote in Congress — and that has GOP lawmakers sweating.
“Listen, this guy -- the $250 bill with his picture on it is such a good issue for the Democrats to talk about,” she told host Jonathan Lemire. “First of all, there aren't very many people that would be spending a $250 bill. And the idea that this is a priority for him kind of synthesizes the whole problem.”
“I gotta tell you,” she added with a smile, “The notion that at least they acknowledge they have to vote on it to make it happen — that Congress has to say it's okay — can you imagine if you were somebody like [Maine Republican] Susan Collins or somebody like [Alaska Republican] Dan Sullivan, and you are running for the Senate, that at this point in time, you're asked to approve putting Donald Trump's picture on a $250 bill? I mean, that is political suicide for those people. So it is just fascinating to me that they keep pushing things that are so bad politically for their own party.”