Which Senate Republicans Voted Against Trump’s Tax and Spending Bill?
NORTH CAROLINA — President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax and Medicaid bill passed the Senate by the slimmest margin after three Republican senators voted “no,” forcing Vice President JD Vance to cast the deciding vote. The opposition came from GOP Senators Susan Collins (Maine), Rand Paul (Kentucky), and Thom Tillis (North Carolina), each citing deep concerns about how the legislation would impact their states.
Why They Voted No
Sen. Rand Paul stood firmly against the legislation, stating it didn’t go far enough to slash federal spending. He also opposed even debating the bill, signaling early resistance.
Sen. Thom Tillis argued the bill would cost North Carolina a staggering $26 billion in Medicaid funding, warning it could break a long-standing federal commitment to provide healthcare for low-income residents. Tillis voted against both debating and approving the measure.
Sen. Susan Collins, meanwhile, supported debating the bill but ultimately voted against passage, objecting primarily to the Medicaid cuts. “One-third of my state – 400,000 people – depend on Medicaid,” she said, adding the proposal would harm rural health providers and nursing homes.
Collins Also Criticized Cuts to Clean Energy Incentives
In addition to her Medicaid objections, Collins took issue with provisions that would phase out tax credits for renewable energy, including heat pumps and residential solar panels. “This bill has additional problems,” she said, calling for more balance in supporting clean energy transitions.
You can read more from the original USA Today report.
Trump Responds With Political Threats
In characteristic fashion, Trump didn’t take the dissent lightly. After Tillis announced his opposition to even debating the bill, the former president lashed out publicly, threatening to find a Republican primary challenger to unseat Tillis in the 2026 elections.
Tillis has since made it clear that he will not seek reelection, making his break with the party line a final legislative stand rather than a political calculation.
What do you think? Should Republican senators be punished for defying Trump’s agenda — or praised for protecting their states? Let us know at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
