Senate GOP leaders are scrambling to shore up the votes for the White House’s $9.4 billion request to claw back funding for foreign aid and public broadcasting.
It’s dangerously close to the July 18 deadline that will render Trump’s rescissions package expired for good if Congress doesn’t act. But Senate Republicans are seeking tweaks to minimize the bill’s cuts to AIDS prevention efforts around the world and valued local broadcasters back home.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune can lose no more than three GOP senators if he wants to get the White House request across the finish line. According to him, it’s still TBD what the bill will look like when and if it gets through the chamber.
“We’ll see where it goes,” Thune told reporters Tuesday, adding that he doesn’t have a hard vote count yet. Thune is assuming Republicans will at least be able to gather the necessary 51 votes to begin debate on the package while leaders continue to whip support.
Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) is among the Republicans seeking to amend the package, but she refused to elaborate on how much of the $9.4 billion she is aiming to protect: “I have already made clear I don’t support the cuts to PEPFAR and child and maternal health,” Collins said Tuesday night.
Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) on Tuesday both said they want amendments to protect public radio stations for Native American reservations and rural Alaskans, respectively.
“Whatever form it takes, we can’t lose these small-town radio stations across the country that are literally the only way to get out an emergency message,” Rounds told reporters.
Complicating efforts to change the package: Any amendment would have to be narrowly tailored to comply with germaneness rules. The parliamentarian is involved, guiding senators on what tweaks will be allowed.
Should the parliamentarian allow changes, Collins & Co. might find support from other Republicans. Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas said he’s keeping his options open until he sees what the chamber’s rulekeeper will allow. Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina said he currently “lean[s] yes” on the package but said some Republicans have made persuasive arguments in favor of protecting PEPFAR.
Other Republicans can’t understand their colleagues’ objections.
“After all the tough talk by Republicans in the Senate about the need to reduce spending, if we can’t agree to reduce $9 billion worth of spending porn, then we all ought to go buy paper bags and put them over our heads,” Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) told reporters Tuesday.
What else we’re watching:
Russia sanctions pending: Expect developments later this week from Thune on when the chamber could take up a bipartisan bill to impose new sanctions on Russia. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told reporters the president is on board with a punishing new package as Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to resist peace talks in Ukraine.
Biden doc to testify: Kevin O’Connor, who served as former President Joe Biden’s physician, is testifying before the House Oversight Committee Wednesday as part of its probe into Biden’s mental acuity while in office. The Trump White House waived executive privilege for O’Connor ahead of his interview, meaning he won’t be able to invoke that reason to avoid answering questions.
New megabill talks heat up: Senate Finance Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) joined House GOP leaders in saying that he wants a second reconciliation bill this fall. He believes policies were left on the table from the first package, although declined to disclose specifics. House Budget Chair Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) said he believes GOP leaders should try to revive provisions cut from the first megabill due to the Byrd rule.
Jordain Carney, Jennifer Scholtes and Hailey Fuchs contributed to this report.
