A vulnerable Republican senator resisted President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” because he was worried about the massive Medicaid cutbacks it contained.
In order to begin a protracted debate and amendment voting process that would ultimately result in the proposal’s final passage, Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., informed Fox News Digital that he would not support the measure through a procedural obstacle.
After leaving the Senate GOP’s closed-door lunch, Tillis, who is running for reelection in 2026, stated that he has a “great relationship” with his colleagues but that he was unable to support the massive plan.
His words were, “We just have a disagreement,” Additionally, my colleagues have completed the analysis and are at ease with the implications for their states. I honour their decision. I won’t vote for the motion to move forward since it won’t have a positive effect in my state.
Additionally, he will not back the bill in its last stages. Several Senate Republicans, including Tillis, have voiced their disapproval of the Senate GOP’s modifications to the Medicaid provider tax rate.
Since Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., can only afford to lose three votes, Tillis’ opposition to the bill is a warning flag. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., is anticipated to join Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., who has so far pledged to vote against the procedural test.
During the meal, Trump was meeting with Johnson and another potential holdout, Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fl.
At 4 p.m. on Saturday, lawmakers are anticipated to vote to move the bill forward.
Thune could have to start over due to the increasing opposition. Collins, who is also seeking reelection in 2026, added to the complexity by stating that although she would back the bill through the first stage, she was inclined not to vote to pass it in the following stages unless the law was “further changed.”
The most recent version of the bill, which was released close to midnight, added an additional $25 billion for a rural hospital stabilisation fund and made changes to the Senate’s proposal that would delay the provider rate enforcement by a year.
Tillis has maintained that the crackdown will have a severe impact on his state, but other members of the group, such as Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, are on board to at least see the legislation pass the first significant procedural obstacle.
In fact, the congressman reportedly warned during a closed-door lunch earlier this week that if the changes were codified, North Carolina could lose up to $40 billion in Medicaid money.
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Even after speaking with Trump, Tillis is not likely to change his mind for the time being. No one in the “administration or in this building” has been able to dispute the additional analysis he plans to release on the effects of Medicaid cuts on his state.
“Look, if this works for the country, that’s great,” I told the president with whom I had spoken. “And I respect that if my other colleagues have done a lot of research and found that things are different in their states,” he said. “We just have a disagreement based on the implementation in our respective states.”
