I previously did not know who Elizabeth MacDonough was. That isn't a name which often pops up in political news. Except that now part of her job is to apply the brakes to parts of the Trump Administration's "Big beautiful bill".
Read on from this article on MSN which explains her duties, and why she is drawing heat from the administration: Why the Senate Parliamentarian is at the center of a fierce debate over Trump’s agenda bill
"For more than a dozen years and multiple changes in Senate control, Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough has been the chamber’s referee, acting as a nonpartisan enforcer of its rules and precedents in what’s typically a behind-the-scenes, advisory role."
"But some Republicans publicly lambasted MacDonough — with a few calling for her ouster — this week after she advised that some key money-saving policies couldn’t be included in their massive tax and domestic policy bill, complicating passage of the measure that includes much of President Donald Trump’s agenda ahead of the Fourth of July deadline the president has set."
"Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin said MacDonough’s rejection of some of the bill’s provisions, most importantly one that would have forced states to shoulder more of the Medicaid funding burden, “seems politically motivated.” Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville said on X she “SHOULD BE FIRED ASAP.”
"Other GOP senators came to MacDonough’s defense, insisting that — while they might disagree with some of her rulings — they would abide by them, rather than seeking a vote to overrule them."
"South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham said he had “no intention” of trying to overrule the parliamentarian. Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley said he “just can’t imagine” Republicans would have enough votes to do so in a chamber where they hold 53 seats."
“We’re not going to throw the parliamentarian under the bus,” said Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski."
"Trump weighed in on Friday. “The parliamentarian has been a little difficult. And I would say that I disagree with the parliamentarian on some things and on other ways she’s been fine, but we’ll have to see,” he told reporters when asked if senators should respect her decisions."
MacDonough’s office declined CNN’s request to comment."
"The focus on the Senate parliamentarian comes as Republicans try to shepherd the massive bill to passage using special budgetary rules that require a simple majority of 51 votes — shielding it from a Democratic filibuster."
"The Senate parliamentarian is a nonpartisan position that was created in the 1930s. In the role, MacDonough, the first woman to serve as parliamentarian, is tasked with advising the chamber on how its rules, protocols and precedents should be applied."
"That includes advising senators in a bill-review process known as a “Byrd Bath” — named for former longtime West Virginia Sen. Robert Byrd — when they are looking to use Senate budget rules to pass a bill with a simple majority. Typically, MacDonough’s office declined CNN’s request to comment."
"The focus on the Senate parliamentarian comes as Republicans try to shepherd the massive bill to passage using special budgetary rules that require a simple majority of 51 votes — shielding it from a Democratic filibuster."
"The Senate parliamentarian is a nonpartisan position that was created in the 1930s. In the role, MacDonough, the first woman to serve as parliamentarian, is tasked with advising the chamber on how its rules, protocols and precedents should be applied."
That includes advising senators in a bill-review process known as a “Byrd Bath” — named for former longtime West Virginia Sen. Robert Byrd — "Typically when they are looking to use Senate budget rules to pass a bill with a simple majority. Senators are prohibited from using such a bill to advance provisions that aren’t related to spending or taxes. ...Lawmakers have largely been hesitant to overrule MacDonough because doing so would further chip away at the filibuster — perhaps the most powerful tool minority parties have on Capitol Hill. Democrats voted to overrule MacDonough in 2013 to eliminate filibusters, requiring a simple majority vote rather than a 60-vote supermajority, to approve presidential nominees. Republicans did so in 2017 to similarly eliminate filibusters of Supreme Court nominees."
"Senate Majority Leader John Thune on Thursday offered no indication the Senate would seek to overrule MacDonough in this case. ”Everything is challenging, but they’re all speed bumps,” he told reporters. “We have contingency plans, plan B and plan C. We’ll continue to litigate it.”
“.....While serving its 100 members on a day-to-day basis, I still represent the Senate. No matter who’s in my office asking for assistance, I represent the Senate with its traditions of unfettered debate, protection of minority rights, and equal power among the states,” MacDonough said during a commencement speech at Vermont Law School in 2018, adding, “That Senate is my charge.”
"...On January 6, 2021, the Senate parliamentarian’s office was ransacked by pro-Trump rioters who sought to stop Congress from certifying the results of the 2020 election. As the rioters stormed the US Capitol, members of MacDonough’s staff safeguarded the electoral votes during the siege, according to Capitol Hill reports."
Good to know there are some speed bumps, and I'm sure the MAGA parts of the administration hate the Senate Parliamentarian with the white hot fury of a thousand suns. So hang in there, Ms. MacDonough.
Trump just does stuff without regard for rules, and, when called on to comply, says "make me."
ReplyDeleteSo far the only thing they've made him do is bring back Kilmer Abrego Garcia, but they're trying to rig up testimony against him with a sweetheart deal for a prosecution witness.
Trump relies on getting dimwits like Mullin and Tuberville to vote for anything he wants, and ousting GOP opposition. I see Sen Thom Tillis says he's gone after his current term is up.
And speaking of dimwits, Eric Trump is making noise about running in 2028. I'd laugh, but I laughed at Trump in 2016 at first.
I expect the spending provisions in the OBBB will go thru, no problem. MAGA workers are happy with $1,000 for a new baby, a $6,000 tax break for Gramma, and no tax on overtime. In exchange, they get no Medicare or foodstamps, a deeply weakened Obamacare (which wasn't that great to begin with), probable closures of nursing homes and rural hospitals, fewer jobs in alternative energy, higher inflation, less oversight on the environment, and $2T more in national debt. Musk/DOGE already killed free public libraries, museums, and arts programs for the kiddies in summer. Some dimwit on TV said we need to stop medical research and "go back to all-natural cancer treatment."
A lot of us won't be around in another 4 yrs to see how this all turns out.
PS, Tillis and Rand Paul say they will vote no. Murkowski is trying to restore nutrition benefits, and Collins wants to hike rich people's taxes. If all four vote no, the OBBB dies even if JD votes yes. But my guess is that Murkowski and Collins could justify a yes vote if they get any kind of concession.
DeleteNow that Tillis has been told he'll be primaried and has therefore announced his retirement, he's feeling unleashed to speak out frankly. I think that kind of thing has some sort of effect on the voting public, even if it's just incremental. These days, a shift of a point here and there means changing which party is in charge in Congress.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard about Eric Trump, but a Trump running in 2028 was a foregone conclusion. I also don't underestimate him. If he gets the conservative media machine behind him, he could easily win the Republican primary. And the Trump machine will intimidate as many other candidates as possible out of running.
On my more pessimistic days (of which today must be one, because it's how I'm feeling now), I feel like the two major parties are having a motorcycle race toward the edge of a cliff.
Eric Trump: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/28/eric-trump-suggests-he-could-run-for-president-when-donald-term-ends
DeleteI don't see it as a motorcycle race off a cliff. I see it as a bunch of scumballs on both sides trying to convince us that cheap egg prices, affordable housing, and good factory jobs like Grandpa's are just over the horizon, now give us all your money and swallow this black capsule.
I believe that Eric Trump would want to run. And I believe he could get a lot of money and the MAGA media to back him. But I don't think he has the "secret sauce" that his old man has, the reality star cum snake oil salesman, celebrity vibe. I don't understand Trump senior's appeal, but I can't deny that he has it. But his clock is running. I know he could try to run in '28 because rules don't mean anything to him. But I don't believe he's going to make it three-plus more years with his physical and mental health intact.
DeleteHow hard would it be to replace Trump with a robot replica? And artificial stupidity has to be a lot easier than artificial intelligence. Non-MAGA might spot the difference but MAGA won’t care.
DeleteA woman did her job with integrity, knowing, I’m sure, that they will try to find a way to fire her. I cling to the reports of those who stand up to this administration. But there is little hope that there are enough people who are willing to risk jobs and their families’ security ( including health insurance) to do this. I don’t blame them, but if only the 51% of Americans who oppose this administration would go on strike to maybe save the country it might make a difference. No Kings Day was a success. Scaling those protests up to a massive level might possibly make a difference. But the realities make this very hard.
DeleteMurkowski chickened out again.
ReplyDeleteShe got special deals on nutrition and fisheries for Alaska in exchange for her vote. It's every state for itself now. Pretty much what he did during COVID by forcing states to compete for ventilators and PPE.
DeleteIf Blue states don't knuckle under, they will put states in jeopardy by getting ICE raiding their cities, losing FEMA money, getting less in whatever safety net $$ are left, and having grant money cut from research, education, and the arts.
He's banking on fear, insecurity, and misery keeping people in line. If they get out of line, he's got handpicked goons in the military now to shoot on sight.