GOP senator calls to fire Senate parliamentarian over Medicaid rulings
Senate Republican Calls for Senate Parliamentarian to be Fired
In a shocking turn of events, Senate Republican Senator Roger Marshall is pushing for the removal of Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough from her position. This comes after MacDonough ruled against several key reforms and tweaks to Medicaid in the Senate GOP’s version of President Donald Trump’s proposed bill.
The ruling by MacDonough means that certain provisions in the bill that do not comply with the Byrd Rule must be stripped. However, Republicans have the option to rewrite and resubmit the policy to the parliamentarian. Despite this, Senator Marshall is adamant that action needs to be taken immediately.
Marshall argues that the parliamentarian’s rulings could potentially eliminate up to $500 billion in spending cuts from the bill. This could have a significant impact on the bill’s survival among fiscal hawks and could jeopardize the goal of achieving up to $2 trillion in spending cuts over the next decade.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has stated that he does not intend to overrule the parliamentarian. However, Marshall is determined to see a change. He is planning to introduce a resolution that would require the position of Senate parliamentarian to be term-limited, allowing only one six-year term.
The decision to remove MacDonough has sparked fury among conservatives, particularly over the rulings that stripped various changes to Medicaid proposed by Senate Republicans. These changes included harsher crackdowns on the Medicaid provider rate and restrictions on Medicaid funding for illegal immigrants.
Marshall and other congressional Republicans view these changes as crucial cost-saving measures. Their removal has caused a setback in the plan to have the bill on Trump’s desk by July 4. Marshall believes that term limits for the Senate parliamentarian are necessary to prevent abuse of power and ensure accountability.
The current parliamentarian has been in office since 2012, appointed by Harry Reid. Marshall argues that this position, which holds significant power, should not be held indefinitely. By introducing a resolution for term limits, Marshall hopes to bring about much-needed change in the Senate.
As the debate over the Senate parliamentarian continues, it remains to be seen how the issue will be resolved. The push for term limits could potentially reshape the dynamics of Senate procedures and decision-making processes. Only time will tell how this latest development will impact the future of Senate governance.
