logo
Democratic Lawmaker Bashes GOP Senator for Passing Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' Despite Concerns: 'This Bill is a Middle Finger'

Democratic Lawmaker Bashes GOP Senator for Passing Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' Despite Concerns: 'This Bill is a Middle Finger'

A Democratic legislator angrily chastised a Republican senator after she voted in favor of President Donald Trump's "one big, beautiful" tax and spending bill despite previously criticizing the legislation.
Massachusetts Rep. Jim McGovern reprimanded Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski during a meeting of the House Rules Committee. The Committee met on Tuesday in order to discuss the Senate's passing of the GOP tax and spending bill.
"Listen to this quote from Senator Murkowski who just caved and voted for this bill. And you're going to love this. She said, 'My hope is that the house is going to look at this and recognize we are not there yet.' I mean, my question to her is, if you really believe that, then why the hell did you vote for this bill? It doesn't make any sense," said McGovern.
McGovern: Listen to this quote from Murkowski who just caved and voted for this. "My hope is that the house is going to look at this and recognize we are not there yet."
If you really believe that, why the hell did you vote for the bill? pic.twitter.com/tV7kfNoZyj — Acyn (@Acyn) July 1, 2025
"It's a dereliction of your duty as a United States Senator and as a representative of the people in Alaska. I mean, when was the last time this current House of Representatives has fixed or solved anything? I mean, where have you been, Senator Murkowski? This Republican House is dysfunction on steroids," he added.
The Democrat proceeded to say that the GOP does not "want the American people to understand what's really happening here."
"This bill is a middle finger to millions of Americans. It isn't just a bad bill, it is the most dangerous piece of legislation in modern history. Dangerous because of the very real damage it will do to real people," McGovern continued.
Social media users sounded off on online platforms, echoing McGovern's sentiments regarding Murkowski and the GOP tax and spending bill.
"She is NOT committed to the American people. She is worried about her own one-person political future. VERY disappointed in her," wrote one.
She is NOT committed to the American people. She is worried about her own one-person political future. VERY disappointed in her. — SeahagNW #BlueVoices 📢 #AccountabilityMatters (@seahagnw1) July 1, 2025
"No, honey. You're either the most gullible Republican or you're just evil. Congress was created to make our lives better. To enrich us. She made the choice to keep their tax rates the same while driving up their energy costs and killing their healthcare. What a gal," wrote another.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 No, honey. You're either the most gullible Republican or you're just evil.
Congress was created to make our lives better. To enrich us. She made the choice to keep their tax rates the same while driving up their energy costs and killing their healthcare.… — Fookin Chookay 🎗️🇺🇸🦅🇳🇴🇮🇪🏳️‍🌈🌊🇺🇦🇮🇱 (@slayergoddess69) July 1, 2025
"She's doing it to try and keep her seat in the Senate. And she can't go against the King. That's the truth," another noted.
She's doing it to try and keep her seat in the Senate. And she can't go against the King.
That's the truth. — Russ Eichorn (@EichornRus31214) July 1, 2025
"Murkowski's logic doesn't add up—if she really thinks the House should reject the bill, why vote for it? Classic political double-talk," said a fourth.
Murkowski's logic doesn't add up—if she really thinks the House should reject the bill, why vote for it? Classic political double-talk. @DanielMorganX1 would probably call this out as weak-kneed compromise. Just say what you mean. — Vibe Frankie (@kosageki1970) July 1, 2025
Murkowski voted yes to the bill Tuesday morning, leaving the bill in a tie. Vice President JD Vance gave the tie-breaking vote, allowing the Senate to pass the bill with razor thin margins.
"Reconciliation is never a very dignified process. We all get that," she told reporters.
"This is probably the most difficult and agonizing legislative 24-hour period that I have encountered, and I've been here quite a while and you know I've got a few battle scars underneath me," she added.
Originally published on Latin Times
© Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Tesla Reports Lower Car Sales But Figures Better Than Feared
Tesla Reports Lower Car Sales But Figures Better Than Feared

Int'l Business Times

time8 minutes ago

  • Int'l Business Times

Tesla Reports Lower Car Sales But Figures Better Than Feared

Tesla reported another hefty drop in auto sales Wednesday, extending a difficult period amid intensifying electric vehicle competition and backlash over CEO Elon Musk's political activities. The EV maker reported 384,122 deliveries in the second quarter, down 13.5 percent from the year-ago period. Shares rallied after the disclosure, which was better than some leading forecasts in recent days. The sales figures released Wednesday, which are global, reflect the more contested nature of the EV market, which Tesla once dominated, but which now also features BYD and other low-cost Chinese companies, as well as legacy western automakers like General Motors, Toyota and Volkswagen. But Musk's political activism on behalf of right-wing figures has also made the company a target of boycotts and demonstrations, weighing on sales. In recent days, Musk has revived a feud with US President Donald Trump, dragging Tesla shares lower on Tuesday. The figures portend another poor round of earnings when Tesla reports results on July 23. Analysts currently project a drop of 16 percent to $1.2 billion in profits, according to S&P Capital IQ. Tesla has faced questions about its dearth of new retail auto products to wow consumers after Musk's futuristic Cybertruck proved polarizing. Analysts will be looking for an update on the state of new offerings after Tesla said in April that it planned "more affordable models" in the first half of 2025. The company has begun deliveries of its revamped Model Y in some markets, according to news reports. Tesla launched a long-discussed robotaxi venture in Austin, Texas, lending momentum to Musk's branding of the company as at the forefront of autonomous and artificial intelligence technology. But reports that the self-driving cars have driven recklessly have prompted oversight from US regulators. Heading into Wednesday's sales figure release, notes from JPMorgan Chase and Deutsche Bank had forecast bigger drops in second-quarter deliveries, citing poor figures in Europe especially. The JPMorgan note was especially bearish, setting a December share price target of $115, down more than 60 percent from today's levels and citing an expected drag from the elimination of US tax credits for EVs under Trump's legislation moving through Congress. But Wedbush's Dan Ives said Wednesday's "better-than-feared" report set the stage for growth. "If Musk continues to lead and remain in the driver's seat, we believe Tesla is on a path to an accelerated growth path over the coming years with deliveries expected to ramp in the back-half of 2025 following the Model Y refresh cycle," Ives said. A wildcard remains how Musk's shifting relationship with Trump could affect Tesla. Musk donated more than $270 million to Trump's 2024 campaign, barnstorming key battleground states for the Republican. After the election, he oversaw the launch of the "Department of Government Efficiency," a controversial initiative that eliminated thousands of government jobs that DOGE said were part of a pattern of waste, fraud and abuse. But Musk has broken with Trump over the White House's flagship tax and spending bill, which Musk rated as wasteful and misguided. Musk has called the bill "utterly insane and destructive" and accused bill supporters of backing "debt slavery." In response, Trump has threatened to target Musk's business empire and warned of deporting the South African-born Musk. Tesla shares fell more than five percent on Tuesday following this back and forth. "This high-profile feud introduces political risk," said in a note Tuesday. "The personal nature of the conflict, amplified by Trump's comments implying Tesla's reliance on subsidies for survival, has sparked fears of broader policy shifts targeting Musk's business empire. This political uncertainty undermines investor confidence." Tesla shares rose 2.8 percent early Wednesday.

How Elon Musk's third party threat could disrupt US politics – DW – 07/01/2025
How Elon Musk's third party threat could disrupt US politics – DW – 07/01/2025

DW

time4 hours ago

  • DW

How Elon Musk's third party threat could disrupt US politics – DW – 07/01/2025

Elon Musk wants to shake up the two-party system in the US after clashing with Donald Trump — but history hasn't been kind to third parties. It appears the world's wealthiest person has set his mind to a new startup: his own political party. As the ongoing public fracturing of the relationship between the US President Donald Trump and his top election financier continues to play out in public, Elon Musk has again vented his opposition to the so-called "Big Beautiful Bill," a tax and spending bill, which he believes undoes the efficiency mantra he sought to instill in Washington. Musk has gone as far to warn Republican lawmakers who pass the bill that he'll run candidates against them in next year's primaries. And he also threatened the broader US two-party system with the promise he'll form a faction of his own. "If this insane spending bill passes, the America Party will be formed the next day," he wrote on X. "Our country needs an alternative to the Democrat-Republican uniparty so that the people actually have a VOICE." A genuinely competitive third party would upend more than a century of Democrats-Republicans dominance at all levels of government. Yet few have come close, despite dozens of minor parties operating across the US for decades. The Libertarian Party, established in 1971, is the third biggest in America. Campaigning for free markets, small government and personal freedoms, it had its best presidential election performance in 2016 with candidate Gary Johnson, who won 3.27% of the nationwide vote. But that's a long way from the tens of millions of votes needed to win the White House, a governorship or even a state legislature seat. The Green Party is another long-running party that has run candidates in state and federal races. Like the Libertarians, it too holds no seats in government. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The very nature of the American political system is the "winner takes all" principle through the widespread use of a "first past the post" voting system. This delivers victory to candidates with the most votes — almost always a Republican or Democrat. There are other factors hampering success, according to Bernard Tamas, a political scientist at Valdosta State University, US, who has written extensively on the subject. Tamas said it's fundamental for a third party to tap into popular unrest — a large number of people who are dissatisfied with the current political options — and build a groundswell grassroots movement. "One of the biggest problems with the parties that have emerged is that they're not really tapping into that anger," Tamas said. Upstart parties instead "tend to be more wishy-washy and [are] not really focusing in on that strong urge for change." If tapping into grassroots is essential, so is money. Parties spend billions of dollars to get their candidates elected. According to donations watchdog OpenSecrets, nearly $16 billion (about €13.58 billion) was spent across the 2024 presidential and congressional races. Musk himself was the biggest donor in the 2023-24 election cycle. He gave more than $291 million to Republicans across all races. Massive campaign war chests help parties "get out the vote" — buying the advertising and campaigning materials that expose candidates to the public and earn their vote. It doesn't guarantee a win — the Democrats spent more than the Republicans in 2024 — but it certainly helps. "You need money for things like ballot access and a number of other things, but no third party would ever have enough money to compete against the Republicans and Democrats on their own terms," said Tamas. Could a genuine third party supplant the Democrats or Republicans? It's unlikely in Tamas's view. Instead of winning seats and building long-term success, Tamas said they instead "sting like a bee." "They emerge very quickly, they run a bunch of candidates all over the country and then they cause one or both major parties major pain," Tamas said. "They basically are pulling away votes." This is called the "spoiler effect", where protest candidates leech votes away from an often ideologically similar mainstream candidate. In some cases, they could pull away enough votes that a frontrunner loses the lead and falls to second place. It's the fear of a third party groundswell that causes the major parties to alter their policies to appease these voters. Once the change is achieved, like a bee that's stung its victim,"it dies." "The most successful third parties in America last about a decade. Once they become too much of a threat, the major parties start stealing their rhetoric, their ideology," said Tamas. Not all Americans are happy with their options. Donald Trump's net approval rating is in negative territory and YouGov's latest polls found almost 3 in 5 Americans view the Democratic Party unfavorably. In 2022, a Pew Research analysis found overall support for more parties in the political system. But it doesn't mean a new party would succeed. A study by two US political scientists in May 2024 found "disaffected partisans" — Republicans and Democrats unsatisfied with their own parties — were less likely to vote for a third, more centrist alternative. Tapping into popular anger and frustration with the status quo, Tamas said, is the fastest pathway to success. For a person like Musk, he might do well to look towards the "Fight Oligarchy" movement of left-wing opponents like Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders currently touring America, or the original MAGA movement, if he wants to start a party. "These are very good examples to follow… the tapping into people's grievances is really it," Tamas said. "They force the [major] parties to respond by threatening their careers and their livelihood."

Elon Musk's dream of a third party could disrupt US politics – DW – 07/01/2025
Elon Musk's dream of a third party could disrupt US politics – DW – 07/01/2025

DW

time7 hours ago

  • DW

Elon Musk's dream of a third party could disrupt US politics – DW – 07/01/2025

Elon Musk wants to shake up the two-party system in the US after clashing with Donald Trump — but history hasn't been kind to third parties. It appears the world's wealthiest person has set his mind to a new startup: his own political party. As the ongoing public fracturing of the relationship between the US President Donald Trump and his top election financier continues to play out in public, Elon Musk has again vented his opposition to the so-called "Big Beautiful Bill," a tax and spending bill, which he believes undoes the efficiency mantra he sought to instill in Washington. Musk has gone as far to warn Republican lawmakers who pass the bill that he'll run candidates against them in next year's primaries. And he also threatened the broader US two-party system with the promise he'll form a faction of his own. "If this insane spending bill passes, the America Party will be formed the next day," he wrote on X. "Our country needs an alternative to the Democrat-Republican uniparty so that the people actually have a VOICE." A genuinely competitive third party would upend more than a century of Democrats-Republicans dominance at all levels of government. Yet few have come close, despite dozens of minor parties operating across the US for decades. The Libertarian Party, established in 1971, is the third biggest in America. Campaigning for free markets, small government and personal freedoms, it had its best presidential election performance in 2016 with candidate Gary Johnson, who won 3.27% of the nationwide vote. But that's a long way from the tens of millions of votes needed to win the White House, a governorship or even a state legislature seat. The Green Party is another long-running party that has run candidates in state and federal races. Like the Libertarians, it too holds no seats in government. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The very nature of the American political system is the "winner takes all" principle through the widespread use of a "first past the post" voting system. This delivers victory to candidates with the most votes — almost always a Republican or Democrat. There are other factors hampering success, according to Bernard Tamas, a political scientist at Valdosta State University, US, who has written extensively on the subject. Tamas said it's fundamental for a third party to tap into popular unrest — a large number of people who are dissatisfied with the current political options — and build a groundswell grassroots movement. "One of the biggest problems with the parties that have emerged is that they're not really tapping into that anger," Tamas said. Upstart parties instead "tend to be more wishy-washy and [are] not really focusing in on that strong urge for change." If tapping into grassroots is essential, so is money. Parties spend billions of dollars to get their candidates elected. According to donations watchdog OpenSecrets, nearly $16 billion (about €13.58 billion) was spent across the 2024 presidential and congressional races. Musk himself was the biggest donor in the 2023-24 election cycle. He gave more than $291 million to Republicans across all races. Massive campaign war chests help parties "get out the vote" — buying the advertising and campaigning materials that expose candidates to the public and earn their vote. It doesn't guarantee a win — the Democrats spent more than the Republicans in 2024 — but it certainly helps. "You need money for things like ballot access and a number of other things, but no third party would ever have enough money to compete against the Republicans and Democrats on their own terms," said Tamas. Could a genuine third party supplant the Democrats or Republicans? It's unlikely in Tamas's view. Instead of winning seats and building long-term success, Tamas said they instead "sting like a bee." "They emerge very quickly, they run a bunch of candidates all over the country and then they cause one or both major parties major pain," Tamas said. "They basically are pulling away votes." This is called the "spoiler effect", where protest candidates leech votes away from an often ideologically similar mainstream candidate. In some cases, they could pull away enough votes that a frontrunner loses the lead and falls to second place. It's the fear of a third party groundswell that causes the major parties to alter their policies to appease these voters. Once the change is achieved, like a bee that's stung its victim,"it dies." "The most successful third parties in America last about a decade. Once they become too much of a threat, the major parties start stealing their rhetoric, their ideology," said Tamas. Not all Americans are happy with their options. Donald Trump's net approval rating is in negative territory and YouGov's latest polls found almost 3 in 5 Americans view the Democratic Party unfavorably. In 2022, a Pew Research analysis found overall support for more parties in the political system. But it doesn't mean a new party would succeed. A study by two US political scientists in May 2024 found "disaffected partisans" — Republicans and Democrats unsatisfied with their own parties — were less likely to vote for a third, more centrist alternative. Tapping into popular anger and frustration with the status quo, Tamas said, is the fastest pathway to success. For a person like Musk, he might do well to look towards the "Fight Oligarchy" movement of left-wing opponents like Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders currently touring America, or the original MAGA movement, if he wants to start a party. "These are very good examples to follow… the tapping into people's grievances is really it," Tamas said. "They force the [major] parties to respond by threatening their careers and their livelihood."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store