All posts tagged "senate"

GOP rebels push back as core bill tries to 'smuggle' unvetted proposals into law

Republican Party senators are expecting Donald Trump to intervene on a bill used to "smuggle" unvetted changes into law.

The bill has been flagged as a "concern for a number of reasons" by several GOP members, and an unnamed lawmaker within the party believes the president may have to get directly involved. Speaking to The Hill, the GOP lawmaker said part of the problem was satisfying the concerns aired by three Republican senators who are refusing to approve the bill.

The lawmaker said, "I don’t know that we’ll ever be able to satisfy them, that’s the frustrating part. I think the president is going to have to get involved."

Conservative Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT), Ron Johnson (R-WS) and Rick Scott (R-FLL) brought the bill to a standstill over a number of concerns.

Lee explained the problems he had with the bill, sharing, "There are a number of authorizing provisions that were smuggled into the bill, into the [Interior] appropriations bill. It shouldn’t have been. It’s not how it’s supposed to work. We’re not supposed to authorize in an appropriations bill and you’re certainly not to do that without the knowledge and consent of the chairman."

The delay means the package will likely not be passed through this year, but Lee believes delaying the bill is justified because of the overlooked additions found on a closer look.

He said, "There are a number of earmarks in this package and it concerns me for a number of reasons. We’ve still got a conference policy that has been in place since 2011, it’s never been rescinded, that says that it is the policy of our conference that no member shall direct a congressional directed spending item, meaning an earmark."

"That policy was followed quite consistently by our conference for a decade after it was adopted. I have grave concerns that we’re now well into — nearly a year into — the new Republican administration and this is the most substantive [spending package] that we’ve had so far and definitely the most earmarks that I’ve seen."

Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD), a member of the Appropriations Committee, aired his frustrations with the delayed bill and said it's more about "trying to move to regular order" than anything else.

He said, "The bottom line is members should be able to get amendments because we want an open process but nobody is going to guarantee an outcome to members that have a disagreement on one piece or another. That’s disconcerting to some members, they’d rather have an outcome. This is about trying to move to regular order."

'Remarkable turnaround': CNN reporter floored as Epstein bill speeds through Senate

A CNN reporter was floored Tuesday as news dropped the Epstein bill was to speed through the Senate just hours after a nearly unanimous vote from the House.

The Senate was to approve the bill, H.R. 4405, the Epstein Files Transparency Act, as soon as the bill was received from the House, CNN anchor and chief congressional correspondent Manu Raju told anchor Jake Tapper.

"Yeah, just a couple of weeks ago, it seemed like this bill was dead on arrival. Just a few days ago, it seemed like it was dead on arrival in the United States Senate. But now it is on its way to the president's desk in a remarkable turnaround in an extremely fast move here, the Senate has essentially greenlighted this bill to be approved as soon as tonight and be sent to the president's desk," Raju said.

Only one member of the entire U.S. Senate voted against the bill — Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA). The bill now heads to President Donald Trump's desk to be signed.

Mockery ensues as whispering Lindsey Graham's Siri loudly announces who he's calling

Mockery ensued on Tuesday after Sen. Lindsey Graham's (R-SC) Siri loudly announced he was calling a primetime Fox News host.

Graham was caught speaking quietly into his phone when his virtual assistant exposed what he was up to.

"Funny moment just now in the Senate: Lindsey Graham whispered something into his phone and then Siri responded with full volume: 'Calling Sean Hannity mobile,'" Andrew Desiderio, senior congressional reporter for Punchbowl News, wrote on X.

Social media users were amused by the funny moment:

"AI could never come up with this," Melissa Angell, policy correspondent at Inc., wrote on X.

"Yet another encapsulation of why we need generational change in Congress," Mike Raia, president at Half Street Group, wrote on X.

"For God’s sake. Do your job. Talk to your favorite Dems and broker an end to this!!!" Lynne Ballard, retired university provost, wrote on X.

"Lmfao incredibly powerful," Curt Mills, executive director of The American Conservative, wrote on X.

"Flip phone guy still adjusting," Burgess Everett, Semafor congressional bureau chief, wrote on X.

"LOL," chimed in Punchbowl News' Jake Sherman

'Hot mess': Multiple senators quietly mull quitting over 'growing frustration' with Trump

Both Republican and Democratic senators are frustrated with the state of their chamber and the inability to make any progress in the face of President Donald Trump's encroachment on their authority, according to a new piece in The New York Times.

"Members current and former, Republican and Democratic, say the job comes with a sense of growing frustration and declining cachet," wrote opinion columnist Michelle Cottle. "The legislative process is a hot mess, and increasingly dominated by giant omnibus bills. Cross-aisle comity is passé. Independence and ideological heterodoxy are treated as heresy."

Senators headed home for summer break this weekend after failing to confirm a list of Trump nominees, prompting the president to tell Democratic leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (NY) to "go to hell" on social media.

Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) told Cottle, “The problem is that we can’t get s---- done," adding that, "Creative obstructionism...has become 'a fine art that has reached its apex so that the institution is nearly paralyzed.'”

Smith announced she will not be running for reelection in 2026, and she's far from the only one.

Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) "decided to pack it in after clashing" with Trump, Cottle wrote. "Two senators have announced they are pursuing the more appealing gig of governor — Tommy Tuberville, Republican of Alabama, and Michael Bennet, Democrat of Colorado — and others are considering following suit."

"It’s a vicious cycle," wrote Cottle. "The more that talented people are turned off or driven out by the chamber’s dysfunction, the more it populates with extremists, opportunists and self-dealers. The more that partisan lines are enforced, the less room there is for moderates and independents, who are now nearly extinct."

Senators who spoke with Cottle claimed "that a majority of constituents want the chamber to turn" from the dark path it's currently headed down.

“There’s a lot of evidence that we’re headed down that road as a country,” said Bennet, “but I don’t think that’s where the American people want us to go.”

Read The New York Times report here.

'Didn't even know': GOP lawmakers talk repeal after being shocked by Big Beautiful Bill provision

Some Republican lawmakers are starting to regret voting for President Donald Trump's megabill now that they're hearing about some of its provisions for the very first time, NBC News reported.

Sahil Kapur, NBC News senior national political reporter, said one of the problematic provisions is a "tax hike on gamblers" that one professional sports better called "potentially catastrophic for the industry."

The clause "would reduce the tax deduction on wagering losses from 100% to 90% starting in 2026," Kapur said in a report for Politics Now.

"Long story short, gamblers could be stuck with a tax bill even if they have zero net winnings in a year."

Kapur said several lawmakers who voted for the legislation now want to repeal it.

"That includes the House's top tax writer, Congressman Jason Smith (R-MO), who told me this tax hike is a mistake by the Senate and that it needs to be undone," Kapur said.

In addition, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) called the provision "unfair" and claimed that "most Republicans didn't even know this was in the bill when they voted to pass it," according to the report.

The Senate passed its final version of Trump's 2026 budget legislation at the beginning of July. The vote was 50-50, with Vice President JD Vance breaking the tie.

Republican senators who voted against the bill were Thom Tillis (R-NC), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Susan Collins (R-ME).

Watch the clip below via NBC News.

'Crook!' Trump launches random attack on Adam Schiff over 2-year-old probe

President Donald Trump launched an apparently random attack Tuesday that he has "learned" some nefarious information about Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) that should lead to his prosecution.

Seemingly out of the blue, Trump posted on Truth Social, "I have always suspected Shifty Adam Schiff was a scam artist. And now I learn that Fannie Mae’s Financial Crimes Division have concluded that Adam Schiff has engaged in a sustained pattern of possible Mortgage Fraud."

In announcing the "possible mortgage fraud," Trump offered no proof to back up his claims.

Trump's post continued, "Adam Schiff said that his primary residence was in MARYLAND to get a cheaper mortgage and rip off America, when he must LIVE in CALIFORNIA because he was a Congressman from CALIFORNIA. I always knew Adam Schiff was a Crook. The FRAUD began with the refinance of his Maryland property on February 6, 2009, and continued through multiple transactions until the Maryland property was correctly designated as a second home on October 13, 2020. Mortgage Fraud is very serious, and CROOKED Adam Schiff (now a Senator) needs to be brought to justice."

It's an old argument brought to light in 2023 by CNN's KFile. A Schiff spokesperson said at that time that his primary residence is in Burbank, CA, while he keeps a second home in the Washington, D.C., area "to spend more time with his children while doing his job.”

The U.S. Constitution says that "members of Congress must have an 'inhabitancy in the state at the time elected' – a fairly vague requirement," according to KFile. A professor of political science at the University of Maryland told KFile that “On the merits, technically there’s absolutely nothing wrong with it."

At the time, when Schiff was running for Senate, the report warned, "the dual residency could still complicate his run for the Senate in the state’s competitive primary and present a political problem." That didn't seem to happen, and Schiff was sworn in to the Senate in Dec. 2024.

Trump offered no new details from the 2023 report.

Trump has repeatedly attacked Schiff, with particular vitriol over his role in the first Trump impeachment proceedings. Trump has called for Schiff's prosecution, censure, and removal from Congress, portraying him as a primary political enemy who led what Trump characterized as a "witch hunt" against his administration.

Read The KFile report here.

'Abomination!' Outrage hits senators as they pass bill in razor-thin vote

After Vice President J.D. Vance cast the deciding vote to allow Donald Trump's megabill to pass the Senate Tuesday, opponents took to social media to warn the House that it was up to them to stave off impending disaster for lower-income Americans.

Call To Activism called Vance's tiebreaker, "one of the most shameful moments in American history."

"After 26 hours of fighting on the Senate floor, Republicans voted to rip health care from millions of people and let little babies go hungry. And they cheered. I'm angry. You should be too," posted Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).

Sen. Angus king (I-ME) wrote, "Never have so many been so grievously hurt in the service of so few."

Rep. Aex Padilla (D-CA) wrote that Senate Republicans should be "ashamed" of the bill, adding, "It’s a full-scale betrayal of the American people—and they know it." Padilla vowed to keep "pushing back every step of the way," as the House gets ready to stage a final vote.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D) wrote that the ultimate passage of "Trump's Big Ugly Bill" would lead every community in America to "feel cuts to basic needs—all so billionaires can get another giant tax cut."

"One single GOP Senator could have stopped this abomination. Saved millions of parents from watching their child go hungry. Saved the lives destroyed when Medicaid disappears. They will all live forever with the horror of this bill," wrote Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT).

Many fingers pointed at Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) who "caved and voted for Trump's massive bill," wrote PatriotTakes. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) lobbied hard to win over Murkowski by promising "carve-out" benefits for her state that other states won't receive if the bill heads to the president's desk for his signature.

Punchbowl News's Brendan Pedersen wrote, "MURKOWSKI tells reporters she wants the House to send OBBB back to the Senate to continue the work. She voted for it. 'My hope is that the House is gonna look at this and recognize that we're not there yet,' Murkowski said."

Political commentator @ChidiNwatu wrote that Murkowski "must be f------ delusional or insane" to believe that could happen.

Journalist Molly Jong-Fast posted, "Disaster for rural hospitals and nursing homes," while journalist Ed Krassenstein wrote, "Hopefully @elonmusk destroys them in the next election.

'Get a job!' Republican wrangles with CNN host over Medicaid cuts

Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT) claimed Monday that he believed President Donald Trump's spending bill would ultimately pass once it heads back to the House, and that it will include an 80-hour-a-month work requirement for Medicaid recipients.

CNN host Pamela Brown pressed Zinke about how he'll be able to justify the Medicaid work provision to his constituents.

"The Congressional Budget Office estimates that nationally, the Senate version of Trump's agenda bill would leave 11.8 million more people without health insurance by the year 2034," Brown began, then asked, "How do Republicans explain this to their constituents?"

Zinke answered, "Well, living paycheck to paycheck is on the premise that you're working. But look, if you're an able-bodied male and you choose to sit on the couch, not work, and you're getting Medicaid, that's taking benefits from someone else who needs it...I would say, look, get a job."

Brown clarified that the Senate version of the bill would limit federal funding, raising concerns that "people are going to lose out on Medicaid coverage as a result."

Zinke said he agreed that states needed to pick up more of the burden, before reverting back to his argument about jobs.

"Remember we had Obamacare that was supposed to be the end-all for insurance. That didn't work. And so a lot of people choose not to work, and they're still getting Medicaid...and look, when the federal government is picking up the tab at little from the states, what's going to happen is you're going to expand, expand, expand. That's why we have the budget."

Brown pushed back, saying, "A small percentage of those receiving Medicaid don't work. And so, you know, a majority work at least part-time when it comes to Medicaid. So, can you say for certain that no one who is eligible for Medicaid who works or works part-time will not be impacted by this? Are you comfortable with that?"

Zinke conceded that if someone is only working "five hours a month, yeah, you're not going to be able to have access to Medicaid."

"But there's reasons, because people are caregivers and that kind of thing," Brown interjected

"The House version, which I understand is going to be pretty close to what the Senate is, that the standard is 80 hours. But look, you could work at a food pantry and get 80 hours," Zinke maintained.

Watch the clip below via CNN.

'No!': Trump lashes out at 'unelected senate staffer' causing him headaches

Donald Trump on Sunday lashed out against the Senate Parliamentarian, an office that has bumped heads with ruling parties at various times.

Recently, MAGA lawmakers such as Marjorie Taylor Greene have blasted the Senate official striking some parts of the bill when necessary under the law.

Greene recently lamented that "the parliamentarian struck all the MAGA provisions out of the Big Beautiful Bill."

Trump joined in targeting the official over the weekend, mentioning another lawmaker.

"Great Congressman Greg Steube is 100% correct. An unelected Senate Staffer (Parliamentarian), should not be allowed to hurt the Republicans Bill. Wants many fantastic things out. NO! DJT," the president wrote.

Read the post here.

Thune faces 'biggest gamble yet' as GOP seeks 'explosive' change on bill: report

Senate Republicans are considering a delay on a "politically explosive" part of the so-called "Big, Beautiful, Bill," an early-morning report showed Thursday.

Punchbowl News reported mid-week that "Senate Republicans are considering delaying a politically explosive Medicaid cut as they look for ways to win over GOP moderate holdouts threatening the massive reconciliation bill."

"The discussions come as Senate Republican leaders are trying to ratchet up the pressure on wavering GOP senators to fall in line and meet their self-imposed July 4 deadline for sending a bill to President Donald Trump’s desk," wrote Andrew Desiderio, Laura Weiss, John Bresnahan and Jake Sherman of Punchbowl News. "Several Republican senators are quietly pitching their leadership on delaying the implementation timeline of the Senate’s stricter crackdown on Medicaid provider taxes. Paired with a stabilization fund for rural hospitals, this could help win over enough of the half-dozen or so wavering senators."

The report states that Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), "who faces a tough reelection next year, said he wants to learn more about how each state’s rural hospitals will be impacted before moving forward. Those analyses won’t come quickly."

“I don’t have a problem with the [provider tax] scale-down,” Tillis is quoted as saying. “I’m just asking some questions so all members know programmatically how this will be dealt with in the states… You need to do a scenario analysis for every single one.”

The report goes on to describe how the bill might reach Trump's desk, noting, "Thune has always banked on Trump and outside pressure to help seal the reconciliation deal."

"But choosing when exactly to kick off the floor process for the bill could be Thune’s biggest gamble yet," the report says.

Read the full Punchbowl News piece here.