Do we dare hope?
Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R) told reporters that casting the deciding vote in the Senate to pass Donald Trump’s godawful budget bill was “agonizing.” Critics rained contempt on her, citing the amount of Alaska exemptions and pork drafters included to soothe her agony:
“Do I like this bill? No,” Ms. Murkowski, who appeared to be quietly seething as she was questioned about her vote, told NBC News. “But I tried to take care of Alaska’s interests. But I know that in many parts of the country, there are Americans that are not going to be advantaged by this bill.”
‘Not going to be advantaged” is weasel for “harmed.”
Given the menace and death threats looming over anyone who gets in Trump’s way, Murkowski may have felt she may as well get something for caving in a way that harms Americans in every other part of the country. With the Senate vote margin so slim that Vice President J.D. Vance had to cast a tie-breaking vote, Murkowski must have felt too vulnerable to stick her neck out.
What happens in the U.S. House if more Republicans oppose passage now that the Senate-amended package is in their laps? Could there be safety in numbers for resisters?
Axios reported Tuesday night:
What they’re saying: “Our bill has been completely changed. … It’s a non-starter,” Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) bemoaned to reporters on Tuesday.
- Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) said in a post on social media that he will introduce an amendment to the Senate bill that would delete all its text and replace it with the version passed by the House in May.
- One House Republican, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Axios there are “well over 20” GOP lawmakers threatening to vote against the bill.
Over 20 GOP lawmakers threatening is not 20 with enough spine to say no. In the end they always cave after some performative handwringing. It remains to be seen whether any House members’ performances will top Murkowski’s.
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), who chaired the Freedom Caucus between 2019 and 2022, told Punchbowl News on Tuesday: “I’m talking to colleagues and I don’t know anyone who’s happy.” Also on Tuesday, Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) dismissed claims that the Senate bill was fiscally responsible as “garbage.” The pushback from House Republicans comes despite Trump threatening GOP members of the House that they could “suffer the consequences” if they don’t pass the legislation expeditiously.
Speaker Mike Johnson, however, has heard his master’s voice and vows to obey his commands:
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) acknowledged the revolt within the House Republican Conference, but insisted he was focused on passing the Senate bill verbatim, so it could advance directly to President Trump’s desk without having to go back to the Senate. He added he would “do everything possible” to pass the Senate version ahead of Republicans’ self-imposed July 4 deadline.
“I’m not happy with what the Senate did to our product, but we understand this is the process. It goes back and forth. And we will be working to get all our members to yes,” Johnson told reporters Tuesday.
Hope may not spring eternal but may show its head now and again. If enough of these characters stick together, they may assemble enough spines to defy Trump and live to bad-legislate another day.
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