Lawmakers Question Third Party-Line Spending Bill

Republican senators raised doubts this week about prospects for a third party-line spending bill that would allocate $350 billion for defense and add voter ID requirements. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said a third package is not in the cards and that the current vote count would fall short of 50 votes. She described reliance on budget reconciliation for defense funding as a dangerous strategy.

Thune said passage depends on whether 50 votes can be secured. Sen. Susan Collins and Sen. Mitch McConnell also questioned the viability of another party-line spending bill. An administration official pointed to a recent statement calling for Congress to pass the package as soon as possible.

The current discussion follows two earlier party-line spending measures passed through the reconciliation process. Lawmakers have cited concerns over both the size of the defense allocation and the inclusion of voter ID provisions. No timeline for a new vote has been announced.