Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) says he’ll vote to advance President Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” however will lead an modification stripping the sale of public lands from the measure.
Sheehy initially mentioned he would vote in opposition to the movement to proceed as a result of the invoice contains language to promote hundreds of thousands of acres of public lands, turning into the fourth senator to vow a “no” vote and placing the invoice in critical hazard of stalling on the Senate flooring.
“I oppose the sale of public lands and will vote no on the motion to proceed if it is included,” Sheehy posted on X on Saturday afternoon.
Moments later, nonetheless, Sheehy reversed himself.
“I have just concluded productive discussions with leadership. I will be leading an amendment to strip the sale of public lands from this bill. I will vote yes on the motion to proceed,” he posted on X. “We must quickly pass the Big Beautiful Bill to advance President Trump’s agenda.”
Senate Majority Chief John Thune (R-S.D.) has advised colleagues to anticipate a 4 p.m. vote to advance the measure.
The laws contains language sponsored by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) directing the secretary of the Inside to promote between 0.25 p.c and 0.5 p.c of public lands to construct extra housing all through the American West.
The availability directing the Bureau of Public Lands to promote hundreds of thousands of acres seems to exempt Montana, which was not among the many 11 states named within the invoice.
Sheehy expressed confidence Saturday that the modification would have sufficient help for adoption.
“Looks like we have the votes to support that,” he advised The Hill. “So now, with that support for leadership, we’re going to move forward.”
“I think the overall passage was endangered if we didn’t have the amendment, and that’s why we’re offering it, because not only was it probably not going to pass here, it was definitely not going to pass in the House,” he mentioned.
Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) additionally mentioned Saturday that he labored on the modification with Sheehy and Senate funds Committee Chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). He added that the vote threshold with a view to cross it could even be set “at 51 votes.”
“It’ll help ensure passage, certainly in the house,” Daines advised reporters. “I do know we’ve some Home members that, like Congressman [Ryan] Zinke from Montana, who has firmly mentioned he is opposed the invoice until this this provision is struck, and so this helps us guarantee we get the invoice handed within the Home as properly.”
Three different Republican senators have mentioned they may both vote to proceed to the invoice or ultimate passage of the invoice for numerous causes: Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.).
Thune can solely afford three defections and nonetheless advance the invoice. Republicans management 53 Senate seats.
Tillis advised reporters after a closed-door assembly with colleagues Saturday that he’ll vote in opposition to the invoice due to steep cuts to federal Medicaid spending and urged GOP leaders to return to the Medicaid adjustments handed by the Home final month.
“I’m going to vote no on motion to proceed and on final passage,” he mentioned.
“I did my homework on behalf of North Carolinians, and I cannot support this bill in its current form,” Tillis mentioned in a press release launched by his workplace.
He mentioned the invoice “would result in tens of billions of dollars in lost funding for North Carolina, including our hospitals and rural communities.”
“This will force the state to make painful decisions like eliminating Medicaid coverage for hundreds of thousands in the expansion population,” he warned.
Johnson mentioned he’s voting “no” on the movement to proceed as a result of he simply acquired his copy of the laws at 1:23 am and hasn’t had an opportunity to learn it fastidiously.
He needs Senate Republican leaders so as to add considerably greater spending cuts to the invoice and has proposed concentrating on obligatory spending packages exterior of Social Safety, Medicare and Medicaid.
“I’m not going to vote for motion to proceed today. We just got the bill. I got my first copy about 1:23 in the morning, this morning,” he mentioned on “Fox & Friends Weekend.”
Paul is a tough “no” vote as a result of the laws features a provision to lift the debt restrict by $5 trillion.
Thune mentioned his management crew would know when the vote is held the place precisely his colleagues stand on the invoice.
“We’ll get to the vote here before long and we’ll answer all those questions,” he mentioned when requested concerning the threatened “no” votes from Sheehy, Tillis, Johnson and Paul.
Up to date at 4:42 p.m.
