Topline
Some Republicans said they were unaware of certain provisions in the massive Trump policy bill that passed the House last month and threatened to vote against it when it returns to the lower chamber after revisions in the Senate, throwing its future into doubt.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., speaks to reporters as she arrives for a closed-door meeting ... More
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., said Tuesday she wouldn’t have voted for the bill if she knew a provision to block states from regulating artificial intelligence for the next 10 years was included, writing on X that she is “adamantly OPPOSED” to the measure, calling it “a violation of state rights.”
Greene said she won’t vote for the legislation again if the Senate doesn’t remove the moratorium, though proponents of the provision, such as Rep. Jay Obernolte, R-Calif., have said it’s designed to motivate Congress to adopt national artificial intelligence regulation, arguing a patchwork of state rules complicates development, according to The Intercept.
Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., also said during a town hall meeting in his district last week he wouldn’t have voted for the bill if he knew it included a provision that would make it more burdensome for federal judges to hold people in contempt.
“I’m not going to hide the truth, this provision was unknown to me when I voted for that bill,” Flood said.
The provision would require judges to set bonds for parties in federal civil suits seeking a preliminary injunction or temporary restraining order to cover any costs that might be incurred if the injunction or restraining order were overturned.
Advocates of the provision claim it’s designed to prevent frivolous lawsuits, while opponents allege it’s designed to protect Trump and his allies if they violate court orders, according to The New York Times.
Elon Musk has strongly come out against the bill in recent days. He ripped the legislation in a series of more than a dozen X posts this week, calling it a “massive, outrageous, pork-filled . . . disgusting abomination.” He also appeared to threaten Republicans who voted for it, suggesting voters would remove them from office in next year’s midterms.
Congress has set a goal to have what’s formally known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” on President Donald Trump’s desk by July 4, though it’s expected to undergo significant changes in the upper chamber and be sent back to the House before Trump signs it. Multiple Republican senators, including Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., have said it adds too much to the federal deficit, while others, such as Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., have expressed concerns about cuts to Medicaid. Assuming all Democrats vote against the bill, Republicans can afford to lose no more than three votes to pass the bill.
The House approved the legislation in a 215-214 vote on May 22, with only two Republicans, Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, voting against the bill, while three others voted “present.” Trump personally lobbied Republican holdouts to approve the bill, and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., spearheaded several last-minute changes, including raising the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction rate and moving up the deadline for Medicaid work requirements. The legislation would also deliver on some of Trump’s campaign promises, including ending taxes on tips and overtime, extending his 2017 tax cuts and additional funding for border security.
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