Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) tore into Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) on Tuesday for lending her eleventh-hour support to President Trump’s massive tax and spending bill, paving the way for it to pass the upper chamber.
In remarks during a House Rules Committee meeting following Senate passage of the bill, McGovern criticized the Republicans who voted in favor of the legislation despite acknowledging that “in its current form, it is seriously flawed.”
He quoted Murkowski, who said, “My hope is that the House is going to look at this and recognize that we’re not there yet.”
The Massachusetts Democrat added: “I mean, my question to her is, if you really believe that, then why the hell did you vote for this bill?”
“It doesn’t make any sense,” he continued. “It’s a dereliction of your duty as the United States senator and as a representative for the people in Alaska.”
McGovern also took issue with her suggestion that House Republicans would take the necessary steps to make constructive changes to the legislative package.
“I mean, when was the last time this current House of Representatives has fixed or solved anything? I mean, where have you been, Sen. Murkowski?” he asked.
“This Republican House is dysfunction on steroids,” the Democratic lawmaker added.
Murkowski finally agreed to vote for the bill following hours of internal negotiations and deliberations with the Senate parliamentarian. She secured some wins for the Last Frontier State but called the process “agonizing” and said she hopes more will be done to improve the bill when it heads back to the House.
The Alaska Republican emerged as a crucial 50th vote for Republicans and was at the center of negotiations throughout Monday night into Tuesday morning. GOP leaders worked to rewrite sections of the legislation important to Murkowski — including carve-outs for Alaska in Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding cuts — to pass muster with the Senate parliamentarian and ultimately agreed to double the rural hospital fund to $50 billion.
The senator told reporters after the vote that she “struggled mightily” with the impact cuts to Medicaid and SNAP could have on vulnerable populations.
“This is probably the most difficult and agonizing legislative 24-hour period that I have encountered, and I’ve been here quite a while, and you know I’ve got a few battle scars underneath me,” the moderate Republican said.
Murkowski ultimately handed Republicans the crucial vote, allowing Vice President Vance to break the tie.
Despite the bill’s passage, the Alaska Republican believes it still can be improved.
“I had to look on balance, because the people in my state are the ones that I put first. We do not have a perfect bill by any stretch of the imagination,” she told reporters. “My hope is that the House is going to look at this and recognize that we’re not there yet.”
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