Tillis becomes third GOP senator to oppose Trump' s big, beautiful bill

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Hill

06/28/25 3:07 PM ET


North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis (R) announced after a meeting with Senate GOP leaders and colleagues Saturday afternoon that he will vote “no” on both the motion to proceed and final passage of the Republican megabill to implement President Trump’s agenda because of deep cuts to federal Medicaid funding.

Tillis said he wants Senate Republican leaders to drop their plan to lower the cap on healthcare provider taxes and instead embrace the Medicaid language passed by the House last month, which would cut much less federal funding in the program.

“Oh no. The data hasn’t changed so I got to vote no,” he said. The North Carolina Republican said Senate leaders should return to “starting with the House baseline.” “I’m going to vote no on motion to proceed and on final passage,” he said.

Tillis’s strong opposition to the bill is a significant development because two other Republicans, Sens. Rand Paul (Ky.) and Ron Johnson (Wis.), have already said they will vote “no.”

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5375176-thom-tillis-gop-senate-megabill-opposition/

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The "test" (procedural) vote is basically a modified "cloture" vote which would happen before final debate and vote. The reconciliation allows the "51" for this cloture. "Concerned Collins" and "Hapless Hawley" had planned to let it go forward but with 3 others as "no" votes (SPAWN of Ron Paul, Rot Johnson, & Tillis), if there is another "no" out there (maybe Murkowsi?), they would need to make changes to get enough for a cloture.

[leftieNanner]

1. I'll believe it when I see it

Senator Cassidy was a hard no on RFK jr too. Until he wasn't.

[D. Spaulding]

2. I hope I'm wrong, but I think this is all theatre for these clowns to claim

some kind of serious principles for the hometown, that they don't really have. I hope I'm wrong. But they'll probably accept some kind of empty promise, and then cave, so they can campaign on "standing up for (fill in the blank).

[Iris]

29. Tillis announced he will not be running again after voting "No" on this bill.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/29/politics/thom-tillis-not-seeking-reelection

[BaronChocula]

3. So if those 3 end up the only No Votes

Hellbilly Elegy Couchbanger can break the tie, if my math is right.

[Fiendish Thingy]

5. I'm guessing Collins and/or Murkowski could be No votes as well.

[Mike 03]

11. God I hope so. You'd think--especially Murkowski.

[MadameButterfly]

19. You would think--but

they have a way of squeaking by. Only 3 dissenters allowed. After that, the twist arms, threaten, whatever they have to do.

[BaronChocula]

22. Look at us bean-counting the end of the American Dream

But what else can we do?

[Fiendish Thingy]

4. Sounds like somebody is worried about the midterms

Guess they aren’t going to be canceled or rigged after all…

[mnhtnbb]

25. Exactly. There's talk that former Gov Roy Cooper is considering a run for the Senate

against Tillis next year (Cooper is a Dem). Cooper is very well liked in NC and could be just the ticket to get rid of Tillis.

[Iris]

30. Tills has announced he will not be running for Senate again.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/29/politics/thom-tillis-not-seeking-reelection

[senseandsensibility]

6. So I guess there's a lot of horse trading going on

among the R's so that exactly the number of them that can vote no with it still passing are allowed to do so. Profiles in courage all the way around.

[Cheezoholic]

7. Thats definitely the "aroma" in DC now ;) n/t

[3825-87867]

8. Not to worry...

IF it should turn to a 49 no votes, Fetterman will make sure Johnson gets to break the tie.

[Red Mountain]

9. Tillis will cave

Just trying to grab a headline or two in his reelection bid.

Wants to appear 'moderate'.

[Mike 03]

10. Ron Johnson is a no?! That surprises me.

I can't think of a single instance when he's defied Trump on anything. He's one of he worst.

[Skittles]

21. actually he has been barking about this bill for some time now

yes indeed

*note: I have always expected him to fold

[republianmushroom]

12. Only until the vote count.

[0rganism]

13. Perhaps, but we won't be seeing a 4th

F47 gets what F47 wants, or people "go through some things". Right now F47 wants that bill on his desk by Friday, and he's going to get it one way or another. He wants to brag about it throughout next weekend. None of the GOP want to be on his shitlist for having messed up this bigly propaganda moment.

You can bet Sen. Murkowski has received some very interesting phone messages over the last 3 days.

[Irish_Dem]

14. Do you think they are bribing or threatening LM?

[0rganism]

15. Yes, partly because that's the default stereotype they've cultivated

Clarification: they'll go after any GOP senator who looks like a potential 4th wobbler.

At this point, they'd have to go out of their way to convince me otherwise, and I don't think they care enough to do that if they could.

...Aaaand she just voted for the bill.

[Irish_Dem]

17. They are psychopaths and it is well known they bribe and threaten to get their way.

We see Trump do it in public almost every day.
It is fact.

We can only imagine what the hell he does in private.

[mdbl]

16. Maybe he can convince Hop-along Fetterman to do the same.

[Irish_Dem]

18. We will find out who the GOP sleeper cells are.

Like Sinema and Manchin.

[BumRushDaShow]

23. Fetterman has become a 1-trick pony

Mainly anything related to Israel and the ME. Almost everything else he has voted with (D)s.

He voted against moving the craven bill forward (cloture vote).

https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00329.htm

NAYs ---49

Alsobrooks (D-MD)
Baldwin (D-WI)
Bennet (D-CO)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Blunt Rochester (D-DE)
Booker (D-NJ)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Coons (D-DE)
Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Duckworth (D-IL)
Durbin (D-IL)
Fetterman (D-PA)
Gallego (D-AZ)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Hassan (D-NH)
Heinrich (D-NM)
Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Hirono (D-HI)
Kaine (D-VA)
Kelly (D-AZ)
Kim (D-NJ)
King (I-ME)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Lujan (D-NM)
Markey (D-MA)
Merkley (D-OR)
Murphy (D-CT)
Murray (D-WA)
Ossoff (D-GA)
Padilla (D-CA)
Paul (R-KY)
Peters (D-MI)
Reed (D-RI)
Rosen (D-NV)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schatz (D-HI)
Schiff (D-CA)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Slotkin (D-MI)
Smith (D-MN)
Tillis (R-NC)
Van Hollen (D-MD)
Warner (D-VA)
Warnock (D-GA)
Warren (D-MA)
Welch (D-VT)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

[Irish_Dem]

24. Suggests who may be funding him.

[LudwigPastorius]

20. "The data hasn't changed so I got to vote no..."

Translation: "Back up the Brinks truck, because my vote is going to cost ya."

[RobertDevereaux]

26. Okay, Tillis, it's time to find your American spine...

…and slam the traitorous mothefucker square in the chops? Are you up to the task?

[barbtries]

27. Johnson changed to a yes.

Tillis voted no.

What I think is they get together with all the no votes and draw straws to see which one gets to actually vote no when the vote happens.

and i called his ass and thanked him. it was all performative.

[patphil]

28. 3 Republican Senators can pretend to care and the vote will still pass 51 - 50 with Vance casting the deciding vote.

But, we all know none of them really care about the American People.
The only problem could arise if 2 of them think they're casting the 3rd "No" vote, and the bill accidentally goes down 49 to 51.
Then they'd have to have a second vote to fix it.
The optics on that would be so embarrassing.