Senate rulekeeper deals blows to revised 'Big, beautiful bill'

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Politico

06/29/2025 11:42 AM EDT


The Senate’s rewritten domestic policy bill faces new hurdles after the parliamentarian advised senators Sunday that several provisions violate the chamber’s strict rules for budget reconciliation bills.

The rulings, released in a memo from Democrats on the Senate Budget Committee, come as Senate Republicans are still trying to ensure they have the votes for final passage of their signature legislation.

Two provisions added to the bill just days ago — and tailored specifically to boost Medicaid payments to Alaska and Hawaii — have been ruled to violate the Senate’s Byrd rule. That limits what can pass through the reconciliation process with a simple majority.

GOP leaders had hoped the Medicaid provisions focused on non-contiguous states, along with other Alaska-friendly changes, would be enough to win the vote of Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). She had voiced concerns over deep cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Murkowski voted to move forward with the bill Saturday night after making committee chairs and leadership sweat.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/29/megabill-byrd-alaska-megabill-parliamentarian-00431730

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TALLY OF ITEMS STRIPPED BY PARLIAMENTARIAN SO FAR (plus the OP)

(Agriculture Committee) - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143482891
(Banking, Environmental, Armed Services Committees) - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143482360
(Judiciary Committee) - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143483730
(Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs) - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143484256
(Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs) - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143484336
(Energy and Natural Resources Committee) - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143485062
(Health, Education, Labor and Pensions) - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143486073
(Health, Education, Labor and Pensions) - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143486091
(Health, Education, Labor and Pensions) - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143486329
(Judiciary Committee) - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143487149

[riversedge]

1. Senator Murkowski wanted a special deal. Follow the rules.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. The "side-pork" is a standard feature on "normal" legislation

but this isn't "normal" legislation. It's reconciliation with special rules and she should know that.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

3. The carveouts for Alaska did not pass the smell test

[Tribetime]

4. This is crazy Don't senators want what's good for the whole country

Not just there's specific interest and screw everybody else

[Akakoji]

5. Is that a serious question?

See Josh Hawley. Etc.

[Tribetime]

6. I know it's just the way things are.It's not a serious question.It's just sickening

[bsiebs]

7. Exactly... it takes a Republican to be that disgusting...

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) had voiced concerns over deep cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Murkowski voted to move forward with the bill Saturday night after making committee chairs and leadership sweat.

If it’s so bad for “your people”, why is it ok to screw everyone else? A true republican value.

[MadameButterfly]

8. She wants Medicaid for her state

but is willing to vote to have it removed in other states.

A simpler way to get the result is to vote against the bill. But no.
A Republican is a Republican.
They are not really free to vote their conscience. Or they have no conscience.
Or both.

[MadameButterfly]

9. Thanks for the list of parlementarian objections

I've been tearing my hair out with all the stuff in this bill that shouldn't be in a reconciliation bill and was wondering where the parlementarian was. I guess I just wasn't finding reporting on it.

What is depressing though, is that without the fillibuster they could get it through.
These things will pass sooner or later if we can't hold them off and win the mid-terms.

It's scary that they even want to do this stuff. They literally want to end democracy and destroy the planet so billionaires can get richer.
They spend their days lying since the truth won't fly and this fulfills them?
They must all be mentally ill.

[BumRushDaShow]

10. A lot of the stuff they are pushing and enacting

has been based on fringe "theories" that are completely uncoupled from reality. And it was concocted with the assumption that it would harm what would be fictional "urban 'lib' enclaves". But instead, those very areas, just due to population density, offer many other resources that no small town or rural area would have access to, even with those latter areas boasting so much about their "self-sufficiency".

[Ruby the Liberal]

11. Wow - thank you for the links!

I've been getting overwhelmed at the destruction being proposed.

Thanks for the list of threads capturing this so cleanly.

[BumRushDaShow]

13. I expect there are other things (some in the linked articles but others not really reported on)

But the Parliamentarian has been busy!

[the_liberal_grandpa]

12. Murkowski was happy to

sell out the rest of the country as long as she had a deal in place for her state.

She recently floated the idea of becoming a democrat.

We don't need anymore Fettermans.

[maxsolomon]

14. The Parliamentarian is the last line of resistance.

More effective than 47 Democratic Senators and millions of citizens calling their Senator's offices.