Donald Trump and the GOP had hoped to have the big, beautiful bill ready for Trump’s signature on July 4.
That now looks less likely.
Not only is the bill being challenged by House and Senate Republicans, but now the Senate parliamentarian is shredding the bill, removing provisions if the GOP wishes to pass the bill via reconciliation.
The bill was already in trouble when it headed to the Senate, and the challenges have only grown.
Several Republicans announced they had issues with the bill, but the names on the list seem to be growing instead of shrinking.
From the reports I have read, there are now at least three Senators who will not support the bill as is.
They would be Senators Mike Lee (R-UT), Rick Scott (R-FL), and Rand Paul (R-KY). Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) has also pushed back, and that does not even account for the handful of anti-Trump Senators in the GOP who will likely reject the bill simply because Trump wants it to pass.
It took the House forever to pass its version of the spending bill, but the Senate version has made changes that are dooming the bill once it goes back to the House.
For instance, Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) has been watching the Senate like a hawk, and he does not like what he sees.
Roy stated, “The message we’re delivering back — both to Senate leadership and to Senate conservatives — that they’re not getting the job done in terms of terminating the ‘Green New Scam’ subsidies, or frankly going far enough on Medicaid.”
Roy is far from being alone, as Rep. Massie (R-KY) has also pushed back, as have other members of the Freedom Caucus.
Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough has been reviewing the legislation for provisions that would allow the Senate to push the bill through via reconciliation.
Unfortunately, after finding a handful of provisions last week, it was announced this weekend that she found eight more that she cannot approve.
I can tell you right now, the provisions highlighted make up some of the key elements of the bill, so I am not sure how Trump will react. Senate Majority Leader Thune (R-S.D.) could override the parliamentarian, but he has stated that he has no intent to do so.
July 4 is now just over a week away, and this bill is more or less going back to the drawing board. I just don’t see any way Congress can get this on Trump’s desk unless they start pulling all-nighters to get the bill in line, then pass it through the Senate and House. Get ready for a Trump tantrum because he is not going to be happy about this.