Thune ready for make-or-break vote on Trump megabill
The source said the vote could happen 'pretty soon' Tuesday morning and that Republicans are confident that Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough will accept changes made to provisions to ease the impact of Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) cuts on Alaskans.
The person familiar with GOP deliberations on how to get the 940-page bill across the finish line said Thune has also explored other 'contingency' plans in case Murkowski votes 'no.'
Thune met in the middle of the night with Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who is a hard 'no' on the bill unless Republicans strip language to raise the debt ceiling.
Republicans have discussed stripping the debt-limit language out of the bill as a last resort if they really need Paul's vote.
The Kentucky senator has said he would support the legislation if it raised the debt limit by $500 billion or another small fraction of the $5 trillion that is needed to extend federal borrowing authority past the 2026 midterm election.
Thune was spotted speaking to Murkowski at a desk near the back wall of the Senate chamber while the both of them reviewed a sheet of text shortly after 8 a.m. Tuesday.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) also huddled around Murkowski.
The intense floor conversations took place about an hour and a half after Vice President JD Vance arrived at the Capitol.
With three Republican senators expected to vote against the bill — Paul, Thom Tillis (N.C.) and Susan Collins (Maine) — Murkowski's vote is absolutely critical for the legislation to pass.
If Murkowski votes 'yes,' Vance's vote would still be needed to break a 50-50 tie.
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