Posted on 05/14/2026 7:04:45 PM PDT by Red Badger
The Senate Parliamentarian on Thursday struck down three key provisions of the Senate’s reconciliation bill
Last month, the House of Representatives passed the Senate-approved package to fund the Department of Homeland Security by voice vote, ending the 75-day shutdown.
ICE and Border Patrol were to be funded separately through a reconciliation package.
Senate Republicans put together a $72 billion reconciliation package to fund ICE and Border Patrol.
On Thursday, Democrat and Republican staffers met with Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough to go through the reconciliation package.
Elizabeth MacDonough, the Obama-era Senate Parliamentarian, struck down key provisions:
Main Border Patrol funding, additional Department of Homeland Security Appropriations, and Border Security, Technology & Screening.
The Republicans have to go back to the Senate Parliamentarian with new language, according to Punchbowl News.
Bloomberg reported:
The Senate’s referee decided several provisions in the GOP’s $72 billion spending package would violate Senate rules if they remained in the text, which will likely force Republicans to overhaul the language President Donald Trump wants on his desk by June 1.
Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough found three provisions in the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee’s title ran afoul of strict rules in the budget reconciliation process Republicans are using, according to Senate Democrats.
Dear FRiends,
We need your continuing support to keep FR funded. Your donations are our sole source of funding. No sugar daddies, no advertisers, no paid memberships, no commercial sales, no gimmicks, no tax subsidies. No spam, no pop-ups, no ad trackers.
If you enjoy using FR and agree it's a worthwhile endeavor, please consider making a contribution today:
Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you,
Jim
Of course
So? I don’t recall the Constitution requiring a parliamentarian. What’s the role of this person, other than to thwart the ability of the Senate to do their duty (and provide cover for the inept Senate leader)?
This is ridiculous. The Senate Parliamentarian has no constitutional power. She cannot strike down anything. She can only offer an opinion.
The GOP majority should give Ms. MacDonough a $20 bill, and tell her to hit the road. Go out and buy yourself a Happy Meal.
But of course they won’t.
Considering we do not have a parliament, why do we have a parliamentarian?
Can her ass.
All Kabuki Theatre. This is par for the course for Republicans, act like they’re doing something, but then get to hide behind the Senate parliamentarian, who is not elected, not part of the Constitution, not required in any form of government, but they’ll convince the American people that they’re just doing the right thing by abiding by the Senate parliamentarian. Thune knew this was going to be the outcome before he even held the vote.
‘Not Doing It Very Well’: More Internal Issues for Democrats Hint at Big Trouble for Midterms is supposed to see that each bill conforms to Senate Rules. Certain things cannot be combined with other things and some things can’t be included at all..................
“Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough found three provisions in the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee’s title ran afoul of strict rules in the budget reconciliation process Republicans are using, according to Senate Democrats.”
Now, instead of a judge it is a “Parliametarian” deciding what elected members of Congress can do?
The Parliamentarian is supposed to see that each bill conforms to Senate Rules. Certain things cannot be combined with other things and some things can’t be included at all..................
Thune won't can it. He'll kiss it.
IIRC, the Parliamentarian put the kibosh something important about a year ago. Is that position Constitutional?
Thune keeps a leftist Senate Parliamentarian as cover for his leftist agenda.
Same old shit different day. More and more, I’m getting the vibe that nothing will ever change. Just more talk, more promises, more rhetoric, more moving of the goalposts, and more criticism on social media for “not being patient enough”.
I hope I’m wrong. I really do.
The Constitution states that each house creates its own rules.
The Parliamentarian position was created in 1935.....
BRAVE AI:
The Senate parliamentarian is a nonpartisan advisor to the U.S. Senate, serving as the chief interpreter of the chamber’s complex rules, precedents, and parliamentary procedures. Elizabeth MacDonough has held this position since 2012, appointed by then-Majority Leader Harry Reid, and she serves at the discretion of the Senate Majority Leader.
The office’s primary responsibilities include:
Advising the Presiding Officer: The parliamentarian sits on the Senate dais to whisper procedural guidance to the presiding officer (often a junior senator) during floor debates, helping them rule on points of order and manage legislative flow.
Enforcing the Byrd Rule: A critical role is determining which provisions in budget reconciliation bills are eligible for inclusion. The parliamentarian reviews legislation to ensure it complies with the Byrd Rule, which prohibits extraneous non-budgetary items, effectively deciding what can pass with a simple majority rather than the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster.
Referring Legislation: The office decides which committee has jurisdiction over introduced bills, resolutions, and communications from the executive branch or citizens.
Interpreting Standing Rules: The parliamentarian provides official advice on the application of the Senate’s Standing Rules, unanimous consent agreements, and statutes affecting Senate proceedings to senators, staff, and committee leaders.
Although the parliamentarian’s rulings are technically advisory and can be overruled by the presiding officer or the full Senate, senators almost always defer to their advice due to the complexity of Senate precedents. The office was formally established in 1935 to provide consistent procedural guidance, and the parliamentarian is appointed by the Secretary of the Senate but serves the institution rather than any specific political party.
AI-generated answer. Please verify critical facts.
I don’t recall the Constitution requiring a parliamentarian. What’s the role of this person....
The role of the Parliamentarian is advisory. His expert advice helps the presiding officer avoid unwittingly violating the Senate rules.
https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48444
7. What is the role of the Senate Parliamentarian in the reconciliation process?As the Senate's expert on the chamber's rules, precedents, and practices, the Senate Parliamentarian advises the presiding officer on the floor regarding the Senate's rules, including the Byrd rule.
Off the floor, the Parliamentarian consults with Senators and their staff, including the preemptive scrutiny of legislative language that, if included in reconciliation legislation, might violate applicable rules, including the Byrd rule.
A reconciliation bill from the House undergoes similar review by the Senate Parliamentarian. Although certain rules of reconciliation apply only in the Senate (e.g., the Byrd rule), in drafting reconciliation legislation, the House is generally mindful of the Senate's constraints to ensure that the House product does not contain provisions that would imperil its privileged consideration in the Senate.
Reid era. There was no "Obama era" where Barack Obama was a Senate leader who made these appointment.
Reid era. There was no "Obama era" where Barack Obama was a Senate leader who made these appointments.
Well let’s see. Was that the same parliamentarian who was monkeying around with the Big Beautiful Bill? The same one the base was calling on Thune to dump? The same one he didn’t dump then, and hasn’t dumped since? That one? that Senate Parliamentarian?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.