Senate Republicans are publicly disagreeing over strategy as they seek legislative victories before the midterm elections, with frustration mounting over lack of direction from Donald Trump and Senate leadership.
According to Politico reporters Mia McCarthy and Jordain Carney, some GOP lawmakers facing November reelection believe they need legislative accomplishments to campaign on. However, Trump and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) have provided insufficient guidance.
Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) expressed frustration with Trump's inconsistency regarding another major megabill. "One day he's okay with it, and the next day he's not."
Thune has hesitated to move forward, telling reporters, "We have to have a reason to do it." Kennedy responded sharply: "I don't know how you move forward without the majority leader's okay. Senator Thune wants us to only work on bipartisan bills. I love Senator Thune like a taco, but he needs to back off the crank if he believes that. There aren't going to be any bipartisan bills—we're right in the middle of the midterm election. Our one shot to get something is reconciliation."
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), a senior Budget Committee member, is challenging Thune's approach. Politico reports that Graham plans to advance a budget resolution enabling a second reconciliation bill targeting military and border spending increases, healthcare cost reduction, and social services fraud prevention.
Internal party divisions are expected to intensify during the House Republican retreat in South Florida next month, where a second reconciliation bill will be a central discussion topic.
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