With time running out before their arbitrary and self-imposed deadline, Republicans are scrambling to push their inaptly named One Big Beautiful Bill Act across the finish line. Among the many hurdles are intraparty disputes and the legislation’s unpopularity.
But there are procedural issues, too.
Because Republicans are relying on the budget reconciliation process, which prevents Democrats from derailing the bill with a filibuster, GOP lawmakers are having to subject the legislation to a complex process — which includes having the Senate parliamentarian remove provisions that run afoul of certain budgetary rules. This process is known as the “Byrd bath,” named after the late Democratic Sen. Bob Byrd of West Virginia.
In recent days, several key measures have already been stricken from the bill, leaving the party with limited choices. Republican can (a) grudgingly move forward with the rest of the legislation; (b) try to tweak the package and ask the parliamentarian to take another look; or (c) vote to override the parliamentarian, which would be a radical and dramatic move that risks altering how the institution functions going forward.
Several far-right GOP lawmakers — in both chambers — prefer the third option and have used some aggressive rhetoric as part of an offensive against the parliamentarian. As The New York Times reported, they’re receiving some support from the Oval Office.
President Trump on Sunday appeared to support calls to bypass the Senate parliamentarian, a nonpartisan staffer who helps enforce the chamber’s rules and has issued several decisions over the last week that have slowed down the domestic policy bill. … Trump’s words echoed those of Representative Greg Steube of Florida, who in a social media post on Thursday called the parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough, an ‘unelected swamp bureaucrat,’ suggesting Vice President JD Vance should overrule her.
“Great Congressman Greg Steube is 100% correct,” the president wrote online on Sunday afternoon. “An unelected Senate Staffer (Parliamentarian), should not be allowed to hurt the Republicans [sic] Bill. Wants many fantastic things out. NO!”
To the extent that reality matters, this isn’t a situation in which MacDonough is removing key provisions based on her “wants.” Rather, the parliamentarian is simply applying the Senate’s own rules while exercising her responsibilities. If her decisions are “hurting” the legislation, it’s the fault of the bill’s Republican authors.
As a practical matter, Trump’s online declaration probably won’t amount to much. GOP leaders in the chamber have already said they’re inclined to honor the parliamentarian’s rulings, in part because they don’t want to create a precedent that Democrats might use in the future.
But it’s interesting nevertheless to see the president look at congressional rules the same way he looks at many laws: as inconveniences.
Trump knows what he wants; he feels entitled to have whatever he wants; and he seems utterly baffled when people, institutions and restrictions tell him there are limits on what he can have.
If the parliamentarian’s interpretation of the Senate’s rules is standing in the party’s way, then from the president’s perspective, she shouldn’t be “allowed” to do her job. That’s not how government is supposed to work, but as is too often the case, Trump doesn’t seem to care.
