Eight Republican lawmakers buckled under mounting pressure and ultimately supported President Donald Trump's sweeping reconciliation package — despite previously voicing sharp criticism of its content, according to a report.
Among those who initially opposed the bill — Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), as well as Reps. Keith Self (R-Texas), Andy Harris (R-Md.), Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), David Valadao (R-Calif.), Chip Roy (R-Texas), and Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) — ultimately voted in favor of its passage.
After months of politicking, drafting policy and burning the midnight oil, the reconciliation measure was officially approved Thursday afternoon.
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A report from NOTUS published Thursday highlight that that same day, several GOP critics who had vocally condemned the plan voted in favor.
Harris, chair of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, who had blasted the $3.3 trillion bill as “not ready for prime time,” still voted yes. Ogles had introduced an amendment to strip out all Senate changes and labeled the measure “Frankenstein." He ultimately supported it.
Valadao, who represents a Central Valley district heavily reliant on Medicaid, vehemently opposed the deeper Medicaid cuts. He had said “no” to reductions beyond the House-approved $793 billion budget — yet still backed the final bill.
Murkowski, who fought to protect Alaska from extreme Medicaid and food aid cuts and declared the bill “not good enough for the rest of our nation." She also voted affirmatively.
Hawley, who authored a New York Times op‑ed decrying the centrality of Medicaid cuts in the plan as “morally wrong and politically suicidal,” also sided with the reconciliation package.
And in the House, Self called the legislation “broken." Roy said it was “a travesty” and Norman thought it was "mortgaging our future." All expressed dire warnings — only to cast votes to advance it.
The NOTUS article notes: "If there was any doubt, Trump has cemented himself as the unquestioned boss of the Republican Party, unfazed about bullying even the most stubborn Republican lawmakers, threatening them with a primary challenge."
It added: "Moderate and conservative Republicans alike cowed under the pressure."
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