Ranking Member Press
Byrd Rule Violations Continue to Mount on the Republicans’ “One Big, Beautiful Bill”
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the Senate Parliamentarian again advised that several provisions in the Republicans' "One Big, Beautiful Bill," would be subject to a 60-vote threshold if they remain in the bill. The below provisions are in the Finance Committee's jurisdiction. "Democrats are continuing to make the case against every provision in this Big, Beautiful Betrayal of a bill that violates Senate rules and hurts families and workers," said Ranking Member Jeff Merkley. "Democrats are fighting … Continue Reading
06.26.25
Republicans’ “One Big, Beautiful Bill” Includes Additional Provisions That Violate the Byrd Rule
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the Senate Parliamentarian again advised that several provisions in the Republicans' "One Big, Beautiful Bill," would be subject to a 60-vote threshold if they remain in the bill. The below provisions are in the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee's jurisdiction. "The Byrd Rule must be enforced, and Republicans shouldn't get away with circumventing the rules of reconciliation," said Ranking Member Jeff Merkley. "Democrats will continue to make the case aga… Continue Reading
06.24.25
Merkley: When Using Authentic Accounting, Republicans’ “One Big, Beautiful Bill” Costs $4.2 Trillion Over 10 Years
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, using the current law baseline which is enshrined in law and takes into account the real cost of a bill, the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) provided its score on the Senate Finance Committee’s portion of the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” showing that it will cost $4.2 trillion over 10 years. Recently, Senate Republicans directed JCT to use a budget gimmick known as “current policy baseline” - to make these regressive tax giveaways to the wealthy falsely appear to add lit… Continue Reading
06.23.25
Provisions Continue to Violate the Byrd Rule in the Republicans’ “One Big, Beautiful Bill”
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the Senate Parliamentarian again advised that several provisions in the Republicans’ “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” would be subject to a 60-vote threshold if they remain in the bill. The below provisions are in the Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s jurisdiction. “Democrats continue to show up and fight every provision of this Big, Beautiful Betrayal of a bill, because this bill is an attack on workers and families everywhere,” said Ranking Member Jeff Merkley.“Demo… Continue Reading
06.23.25
Merkley, Booker, Schumer, Wyden Call on Congressional Leadership to Backtrack on Devastating Health Care Cuts That Will Saddle More Working Families with Medical Debt
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, and U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) called on Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) to reconsider the devastating health care cuts in the House-passed “One Big, Beautiful Bill.” Recent analysis published by Third Way, a centrist think tank, shows that nearly 5.4 million American people - including 2… Continue Reading
06.22.25
“One Big, Beautiful Bill” Has More Provisions That Violate the Byrd Rule, According to Senate Parliamentarian
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Republicans’ “One Big, Beautiful Bill” continues to include provisions that violate the Senate’s Byrd Rule, according to the Senate Parliamentarian, and would be subject to a 60-vote threshold if they remain in the bill. The below provisions are in the Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee title. “There is no better way to define this Big Beautiful Betrayal of a bill than families lose, and billionaires win. Democrats are on the side of families and worke… Continue Reading
06.22.25
Merkley: Republicans Confirm the Use of Magic Math
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Following direction from Senate Republicans, the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) released its score on the Senate Finance Committee’s portion of the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” using “magic math” - in the form of a budget gimmick known as “current policy baseline” - to make these regressive tax giveaways to the wealthy falsely appear to add little to the national debt. U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the below statement… Continue Reading
06.21.25
More Provisions in Republicans’ “One Big, Beautiful Bill” Are Subject to Byrd Rule, Parliamentarian Advises
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, further advice was provided by the Senate Parliamentarian that provisions in the Republican “One Big, Beautiful Bill” violate the Senate’s Byrd Rule and would be subject to a 60-vote threshold if included in the bill. The below provisions are in the Senate Judiciary and Commerce Committee’s jurisdiction. The Senate Parliamentarian has not yet provided guidance for the remaining immigration-related provisions within the Judiciary title. The Parliamentarian has also provi… Continue Reading
06.20.25
Several Additional Provisions in Republicans’ “One Big, Beautiful Bill” Are Subject to 60-Vote Threshold, According to Senate Parliamentarian
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the Senate Parliamentarian advises additional provisions in the Republican “One Big, Beautiful Bill” violate the Senate’s Byrd Rule and would be subject to a 60-vote threshold if included in the bill. The below provisions are in the following Senate Committee jurisdictions: Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; and Commerce, Science, and Technology. Guidance pertaining to several additional provisions, including the provision in the Commerce title concerning AI policy, … Continue Reading
06.19.25
Senate Parliamentarian Advises Several Provisions in Republicans’ “One Big, Beautiful Bill” Are Not Permissible, Subject to Byrd Rule
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the Senate Parliamentarian advised that the following provisions in the Republican “One Big, Beautiful Bill” violate the Senate’s Byrd Rule and would be subject to a 60-vote threshold if included in the bill. The below provisions are in jurisdiction of the following Senate Committees: Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Environment and Public Works; and Armed Services. “Tonight, the Senate Parliamentarian advised that certain provisions in the Republicans’ One Big, Be… Continue Reading
06.16.25
Republican Tax Giveaways in House-Passed “One Big, Beautiful Bill” Will Cost $31 Trillion, According to CRFB
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB), a centrist budget policy think tank, released analysis showing that if the temporary tax provisions in the House-passed “One Big, Beautiful Bill” are made permanent, it will add $31 trillion to the national debt over 30 years. The Republicans’ House-passed bill currently ends certain provisions, like no tax on tips and accelerated depreciation of business property, after four or five years making the cost of the bil… Continue Reading
06.16.25
Merkley Denounces Reckless Republican Effort to Sell off Public Lands in “One Big, Beautiful Bill”
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee and the Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, released the below statement following reports that the Republican “One Big, Beautiful Bill” includes provisions that would allow the federal government to sell off millions of acres of federal lands, including thousands of acres in Oregon. “Our public lands—which contribute to the spirit and economies of communities throughout Orego… Continue Reading
06.12.25
CBO Tells Merkley: “One Big, Beautiful Bill” Adds $4.5 Trillion to Debt if Temporary Tax Provisions Made Permanent
WASHINGTON, D.C. - As Senate Republicans continue to haggle over how to give billionaires the biggest tax break, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) told U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, that if the temporary tax provisions in the House-passed “One Big, Beautiful Bill” are instead made permanent, the debt will increase by $4.5 trillion over the next 10 years. Recently, CBO released analysis showing that the bill will add $3 trillion t… Continue Reading
06.12.25
Merkley: CBO Confirms “Big, Beautiful Bill” Benefits the Wealthy, Working Families Pay the Price
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the below statement following analysis published by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) showing that the House-passed “One Big, Beautiful Bill” will disproportionately benefit millionaires and billionaires while taking away services families rely on. “Every day, we see more and more evidence that this bill is all part of the Republicans’ Great Betrayal of American families,” sai… Continue Reading
06.05.25
CBO Releases New Analysis Showing House-Passed “Big Beautiful Bill” Will Add Even More to the Deficit When Including Interest
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the below statement following a new analysis published by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) which shows the Republican House-passed “Big Beautiful Bill” will add $3 trillion to the deficit when including the $551 billion in increased interest on the national debt caused by the provisions in the bill which overwhelmingly benefit the wealthiest Americans. Yesterday, CBO rele… Continue Reading
06.04.25
Merkley Statement on New CBO Analysis Showing Republican Plan Kicks 16 Million People Off Their Health Insurance
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the below statement following analysis from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) showing that the Republican plan will kick 16 million people off of their health insurance to fund tax breaks for billionaires. “This is the Republican plan: stripping away health coverage from millions of hardworking middle-class families to fund tax breaks for billionaires. This bill is simply fami… Continue Reading
06.04.25
CBO Analysis Shows House-Passed Reconciliation Bill Adds $2.4 Trillion to the 10-year Deficit
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the below statement following new analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) showing that the House-passed reconciliation bill would cost $2.4 trillion over the next 10 years. “Congressional Republicans will let nothing stand in the way of enacting their families lose, billionaires win agenda. This ‘Big, Beautiful Betrayal’ will leave millions without health c… Continue Reading
06.04.25
Trump Tariffs Will Hurt Economic Growth, Boost Inflation, Raise Costs to Families, CBO Finds
WASHINGTON, D.C. - If the Trump tariffs remain in effect - in spite of a recent court ruling that they are illegal - they will slow economic growth, boost inflation, and hurt working- and middle-class families, according to a new analysis from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The analysis was requested by Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR). "Tru… Continue Reading
06.03.25
Merkley Statement on Trump’s Request to Codify Illegal, Disastrous DOGE Cuts to Foreign Aid, NPR and PBS
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee and senior member of the Senate Appropriations and Senate Foreign Relations Committees, released the below statement after the Trump Administration sent Congress a rescissions package that would implement disastrous cuts made illegally and unconstitutionally by the “Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).” The Trump Administration is currently unconstitutionally impounding funds, includi… Continue Reading
05.22.25
Merkley Statement on GAO’s First Determination Showing the Trump Administration Violated the Impoundment Control Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the below statement after the Government Accountability Office (GAO) published its first finding that the Trump Administration has violated the Impoundment Control Act. “The President is not a king, and laws are not suggestions,” said Ranking Member Jeff Merkley. “Today’s determination by GAO reiterates what we knew all along: the Impoundment Control Act is the law of the land, an… Continue Reading