Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has dropped a bombshell by refusing to challenge the Senate parliamentarian’s gutting of key Medicaid provisions in the much-touted “Big, Beautiful Bill.”
Thune’s decision comes after a series of rulings by Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough that have thrown major roadblocks in the path of Senate Republicans hoping to push the bill through reconciliation, Breitbart reported.
On Sunday, MacDonough struck down eight provisions of the bill, ruling they couldn’t pass without a 60-vote supermajority in the Senate.
Not content with one blow, MacDonough followed up on Monday by voiding seven more sections of the legislation, citing violations of reconciliation rules as reported by Breitbart News.
By Thursday, the parliamentarian delivered another hit, rejecting critical Medicaid reforms, including a proposal to limit states’ ability to pull in extra federal funding through healthcare provider taxes.
Lawmakers projected this funding cap to save hundreds of billions, making it a cornerstone for Republicans trying to balance the books on their ambitious bill.
MacDonough didn’t stop there; she also axed measures that would have barred Medicaid funds from covering transgender healthcare services and prevented unauthorized migrants from accessing Medicaid or CHIP coverage, per Breitbart News reports.
With these rulings piling up, some Republicans were itching to “sideline” MacDonough and push past her decisions, but Thune put the brakes on that idea fast.
“No,” Thune said bluntly, as reported by The Hill, adding, “That would not be a good outcome for getting a bill done.” Talk about a reality check—bypassing the parliamentarian might feel good in the moment, but it risks derailing the entire legislative process.
Instead of throwing tradition out the window, Thune hinted at creative solutions, saying, “There are things that we can do. There are other ways of getting to that same outcome.” It’s a classic conservative move—don’t burn the house down, just find a back door.
On the Medicaid cuts, Thune was quick to frame the debate on his terms: “It doesn’t cut Medicaid. We are continuing to grow Medicaid.”
He doubled down, explaining, “We’re just growing at a slower rate than what has been allowed for under the existing law, which, by the way, grew Medicaid in the last five years at 50 percent.” It’s a fair point—sustainability isn’t a dirty word, even if progressive critics might paint it as heartless.
Thune also stressed collaboration with the White House, noting, “And that’s what the President has wanted us to do, and we work closely with him and his team as we’ve gone through this process.”
He added a crucial caveat: “But at the end of the day, we want to make sure that this doesn’t hurt beneficiaries.” It’s a nod to the heart of the MAGA base—reform waste and fraud, sure, but don’t leave vulnerable folks in the lurch while battling the bureaucratic swamp.
Looking ahead, Republicans still see a glimmer of hope, as they plan to tweak the language on the Medicaid provider tax provision to fit within reconciliation rules. Whether that’s enough to salvage the “Big, Beautiful Bill” remains to be seen, but Thune has refused to play hardball with the parliamentarian, signaling that he prefers patience over populist rage. After all, in a Senate where every vote counts, procedural stunts that alienate moderates could cost more than losing a few struck-down provisions.
