Medicaid Update: John Thune Says Senate Won’t Overrule Parliamentarian

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Thursday that the upper chamber will not overrule the parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough, after she said that a key Medicaid provision in the GOP’s flagship spending bill doesn’t pass muster.

Why It Matters

MacDonough infuriated Senate Republicans earlier Thursday, when she said their plan to change how states tax Medicaid providers doesn’t abide by the rules that would allow the Senate to pass the domestic policy bill with a simple majority.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, backed by President Donald Trump and passed by the House of Representatives last month, is currently being reworked in the Senate and aims to deliver on the president’s biggest priorities.

But the bill has sparked widespread blowback over Republicans’ proposed cuts to key programs, such as Medicaid, which would be used to pay for tax cuts that disproportionately benefit wealthy Americans, as well as additional funding for border security and immigration enforcement.

What To Know

Thune told Politico on Thursday the Senate won’t move to overrule MacDonough despite Republicans’ dissatisfaction with her ruling.

“No, that would not be a good option for getting a bill done,” the South Dakota Republican told Politico.

This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.