General Discussion

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) on Thursday said he will not overrule the parliamentarian after she rejected key Medicaid provisions in the GOP’s tax and spending megabill, dealing a blow to Republicans’ plan to pay for tax cuts in the package.

“No. That would not be a good outcome for getting a bill done,” Thune told reporters at the Capitol.

Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough rejected a plan that would cap states’ ability to collect more federal Medicaid funding via healthcare care provider taxes. The move would have collected hundreds of billions in savings, which Republicans were relying on.

Thune says Republican leaders knew “it was going to be an interesting conversation” with the Senate’s referee about the provision, but believes there are actions members can take to find similar savings.