Senate Republicans are increasingly convinced that their sweeping legislative package simply cannot pass under current conditions, casting serious doubt on Majority Leader John Thune’s (R-S.D.) push to bring the bill to a vote by July 4, Politico reported Tuesday.
Resistance is reportedly mounting from multiple factions within the GOP, with lawmakers warning that rushing the process could result in a legislative collapse.
“My guess is it will fail,” Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) told Politico.
READ MORE: ‘Pulled the rug out from under us’: Trump country left reeling after he cancels ‘very good program’
He added: “I don’t want to see it fail. I want this thing to succeed.”
The full legislative text, released Monday, covers tax policy, health care, and other major issues — but instead of building consensus, it has exposed deep rifts within the party. Fiscal conservatives argue the bill doesn’t sufficiently reduce the deficit. Others, like Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) are wary of its Medicaid changes, telling the Wall Street Journal that the impact on rural hospitals would be “potentially really bad.” Others object to revisions in clean-energy incentives and Trump’s proposed tax cuts, per the report.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), a vocal critic of the legislation, is already expected to vote no. GOP leaders are aiming for a first vote by next Wednesday or Thursday, potentially setting up final passage over the weekend. But many in the party now view that timeline as implausible, the report said.
Further delays are likely as Senate committees await cost estimates and rulings from the parliamentarian, who could strip out key provisions in the final stages.
READ MORE: ‘Barbarism’: Analyst says this new Trump policy proves he was ‘never about law and order
According to Politico, doubt has also spread beyond the Capitol. Lobbyists are still reviewing the 549-page proposal released by the Senate Finance Committee, while key players on K Street keep a close eye on signs of internal GOP dissent.
“The general sense downtown that is causing concern is that the bill in its current form cannot pass either body,” an unnamed lobbyist at a major firm confided to Politico. “So the bill is still, by necessity, open and will be changed.”
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) has raised her own objections to parts of the Medicaid provisions — specifically the sections introducing new work requirements. When asked whether she might oppose the bill because of these Medicaid-related concerns, she told Politico, “I don’t think it’s going to stay in this form.”
Murkowski also expressed skepticism about the legislative timeline, saying, “I never thought we could get it done by the Fourth of July,” and adding, “But you know what? I’m not in charge of the schedule.”
