Lisa Murkowski says it was 'agonizing' to vote for the megabill
By: POLITICO
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Sen. Lisa Murkowski made the “agonizing” decision to vote for Senate Republicans’ version of the “big, beautiful” bill after winning key concessions on federal health and food-aid programs for her state.
“Did I get everything I wanted? Absolutely not,” Murkowski told reporters after the vote.
But Murkowski touted changes she secured to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that would allow for “greater flexibility” for Alaska and extra support for rural hospitals “that is going to be very key.” Senate Republicans also removed a controversial tax on solar and wind energy projects — a change Murkowski had pushed for. She also said she wanted to see President Donald Trump’s 2017 tax cuts extended.
“I had to look on balance, because the people in my state are the ones that I put first,” Murkowski said. “We do not have a perfect bill by any stretch of the imagination. My hope is that the House is going to look at this and recognize that we’re not there yet.”
Murkowski said she’s urged both the White House and top Hill Republicans to send the bill to conference rather than ramming it back through the House this week, and slammed the “artificial” timeline Trump and GOP leaders had set of speeding the bill to his desk by July 4.
“I’ve urged the White House that I think that more process is needed to this bill, because I would like to see a better outcome for people in this country,” she said.
Trump appeared to waver on his July 4 deadline Tuesday, telling reporters “I think it’s very hard to do.”
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When asked about it in the hall outside the Senate she looked stunned to learn that people are disappointed in her. She stood there for seconds without speaking, seemingly realizing what she had done.
She says she KNOWS the bill will hurt a lot of people nationwide but she felt she had to help Alaska .
IMO she should resign tomorrow.
Isn't that what she was elected to do?
Alaskans should be outraged!
Not at the expense of the other 49 states. She admits that the bill is not good, but voted for it because the GOP leadership bribed her.
That is bullshit. No politician will ever be reelected if they think of other states before their own. To believe otherwise is beyond naive.
How dare she thought of her constituents first. I am sure California politicians think how a bill will effect Alaska before voting for it.
So now Elon Musk might do what he threatened and do what he can to make sure she is NOT reelected. I prefer to see a politician indicate principle and integrity, because maybe the electorate might learn from that, as I'm sure the people of Wyoming have learned by now..
So Lisa M. is "bringing PORK BACK."
Is that Kosher?
It's CASH!
Well, to be honest, there are idiot leftists in Minnesota that continue to elect Omar, even though she publicly has said she puts Somalia in front of the US.
Kind of blows up my 5% of people are idiots theory.
That might be a goal but we have been moving in the wrong direction for years.
And there is Rashida Tlaib, who wrapped herself in a Palestinian flag to celebrate her election.
Who is this bill going to hurt and how?
Yes, she should resign along with Rand Paul, Susan Collins, and a few others
I don't think anybody is actually disappointed. That would imply that anybody expected any better.
We all know her role in this play. She hems and she haws, and she tries to put on a concerned face, and votes the way Trump tells her to in the end. Oh, in a while, when some veteran in the sticks somewhere dies because his rural hospital closed due to Medicaid cuts, she'll be shocked and concerned, and have no idea how it got this bad.
She brought shame on herself today.
Pathetic. If she had voted no it would have went in the opposite direction than that which she seems to be suggesting was inevitable.
It seems every year, Lisa and Susan are 'conflicted' about something. . . that they manage to get over and 'off' anyway—during "crunch-time." I put no faith in their political handwringing. Both of these women are "Yes" women - plain and simple. It will be striking when they don't tow the party line in the end. I could be wrong, but I do not remember a John McCain, "save the country" moment of voting down BS from either of them.
Old age and retirement are coming for them. What comes next may be better or worse regardless of the party.
When it comes to "drama queens" - republican styled: They are collectibles.
Tools - the pair of them.
Well, I do have to take a step back. . . I have learned that Senator Susan Collins cast a "No" vote on the bill. So, good on her! She stood with the people who need medical care this time!