House Republicans’ tax bill is hitting a brick wall in the Senate, where Republican lawmakers are signaling it has no path forward. Earlier this week, House Republicans voted to pass their spending bill which includes the largest Medicaid cuts in American history – all so Trump and the GOP can give tax breaks to the wealthiest people and corporations. But Republicans in the Senate have made it clear: this bill is dead on arrival.
Destroying our health care system will cause devastation to millions of Americans, including seniors, children, people with disabilities, cancer patients, small business owners, and more. It’s a scam to give massive tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy and large corporations at the expense of hard-working families. It’s time for Republicans in the Senate to prove where they stand: with billionaires or with everyday Americans.
Republican Senators
Anonymous Republican Senator: “There’s probably five, six, seven of us who, if you do anything that cuts into benefits, you’re going to have a real problem. The leader is aware of that.” [The Hill, 5/22/25]
John Thune, South Dakota: “We are going to write our own bill.” [CNN, 5/22/25]
Josh Hawley, Missouri: “Listen, the Senate will write its own version of this, so to speak. I’m sure there’ll be all kinds of tweaks and adjustments. [Trump’s] comments to me were, ‘Don’t cut Medicaid.’ He said he thought we ought to revisit the carried interest loophole and close it, which I think is a wise idea. So, you know, I think he’s given us some direction there.” [NOTUS, 5/23/25]
Lisa Murkowski, Alaska: “There are provisions in there that are very, very, very challenging, if not impossible, for us to implement.” [CNN, 5/22/25]
Mike Rounds, South Dakota: “Once the Senate weighs in on it, I think we’ll have a different opinion about what the bill looks like. We’re a long ways from the finish line.” [CNN, 5/22/25]
Roger Marshall, Kansas: “We need to go back through that bill with a fine-tooth comb and make it better. I think there’s opportunities in Medicaid to make that bill better, to make sure that we strengthen it, that we preserve it for those who need it most.” [LA Times, 5/22/25]
Ron Johnson, Wisconsin: He’s “absolutely” a no on the House bill as “currently constructed.” [The Hill, 5/23/25]
Susan Collins, Maine: “I have said and made clear that I do not want to take away Medicaid benefits,” Collins said, adding that she will be closely reviewing the House GOP bill. [CNN, 5/22/25]
Ted Cruz, Texas: “I think there will be considerable changes in the Senate.” [The Hill, 5/23/25]
Thom Tillis, North Carolina: “We are going to have to figure out what the art of the possible is in the Senate. There’s clearly going to be changes to the bill.” [NYT, 5/22/25]