Most GOP senators skip July 4 celebrations amid health-care bill backlash

Sen. Mitch McConnell skipped July 4 celebrations
(Image credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Only a handful of Republican senators made public appearances on the Fourth of July, and almost all of those who did march in Independence Day parades or appear at public celebrations had opposed the Senate GOP health-care bill. Negotiations among Republicans are ongoing during the July 4 break, and the Senate could vote on a modified bill as early as next week, if the Congressional Budget Office releases a new cost/benefit analysis.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who scrapped a planned vote last week after a handful of Republicans threatened to block the bill, had wanted a vote before the break in part so GOP senators would not be swayed by public sentiment against his widely unpopular bill. Only four of the 52 GOP senators announced participation in July 4 parades — Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Dean Heller (Nev.), and Ted Cruz (Texas) — and all but Cruz marched in remote locations; all four had voiced concern about McConnell's bill, and all but Murkowski were solid no votes before the break.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us
Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.