Collins and Cornyn amendments fail as Senate votes on Trump’s megabill
Many senators faced setbacks during the recent vote-a-rama in the Senate, leaving the fate of President Donald Trump’s proposed bill uncertain. Among the key failures were amendments proposed by Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Sen. John Cornyn of Texas.
Collins had put forth an amendment aimed at increasing funding for rural hospitals by doubling the allocation from $25 billion to $50 billion over the next decade. This would have allowed more medical providers in rural areas to access the funds and ensure the sustainability of healthcare services in those communities. Collins also proposed raising tax rates for individuals earning more than $25 million annually and couples earning over $50 million, in an effort to address concerns raised by Democrats about the bill’s impact on Medicaid.
On the other hand, Cornyn, along with Sens. Rick Scott of Florida and John Barrasso of Wyoming, sought to further reduce Medicaid funding by $313 billion. However, the amendment failed to gain sufficient support, with many senators expressing reservations about additional cuts to the program. Sen. Jim Justice of West Virginia voiced his discomfort with further reductions to Medicaid, indicating that the existing cuts in the bill were already significant.
In a separate effort, Sen. Kennedy proposed an amendment that would have allowed teachers to deduct up to $600 for school supplies they purchase out of pocket each year. Despite the importance of supporting educators, the proposal was rejected in a close vote of 46-54.
Additionally, Sen. Bennet’s amendment to enhance the child tax credit included in the bill did not garner enough support and was voted down 22-78. However, a bipartisan amendment sponsored by Sens. Markey, Blackburn, and Cantwell succeeded in removing a provision from the bill that would have imposed a 10-year moratorium on state regulations related to artificial intelligence. This amendment passed with overwhelming support in a 99-1 vote, with Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina being the sole dissenting vote.
In conclusion, the vote-a-rama in the Senate saw a mix of successes and failures for lawmakers seeking to amend President Trump’s proposed bill. While some amendments were unsuccessful, others managed to pass with bipartisan support, highlighting the diverse range of issues at play in the legislative process.
