U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) played a pivotal role on Tuesday by casting a decisive vote for President Donald Trump’s extensive tax-and-spending bill, facilitating its passage in the Republican-led Senate.
Before casting her vote, however, Murkowski managed to secure a vital adjustment to the legislation, directly addressing the concerns of her Alaskan constituents. “Do I like this bill? No. But I tried to take care of Alaska’s interests,” she stated in an interview with NBC News’ Ryan Nobles.
Murkowski emphasized her commitment to advocating for her state, declaring, “I will make no excuses for doing that.” The final “yea” she cast provided Republicans with the necessary votes to reach the threshold of 50, setting the stage for Vice President JD Vance to cast a tie-breaking vote.
Addressing the broader implications of the bill, Murkowski acknowledged that many Americans nationwide may not see benefits. “I know that in many parts of the country, there are Americans that are not going to be advantaged by this bill. I don’t like that.” Nevertheless, she expressed that the overall benefits to Alaska justified her support.
As a moderate Republican with a history of criticism toward Trump, Murkowski raised alarms about the bill’s proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which assists vulnerable populations, including approximately one-tenth of Alaskans in 2024, as indicated by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Alaska also leads the nation in SNAP payment error rates, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Ultimately, Murkowski supported the bill after negotiating last-minute improvements, such as additional funding for rural hospitals and a provision exempting states with the highest SNAP error rates from cuts for two years. In a detailed statement following the vote, she highlighted her efforts to enhance the bill for Alaska. “My goal throughout the reconciliation process has been to make a bad bill better for Alaska, and in many ways, we have done that,” she wrote on social media. She also acknowledged that while her modifications benefitted her state, the bill was not ideal for the rest of the nation.
The contentious bill ultimately passed with a narrow 51-50 vote, following Vice President Vance’s tie-breaking intervention. Three Republicans—Susan Collins of Maine, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, and Rand Paul of Kentucky—joined all Democrats in opposition.
The legislation is set to return to the House for a final vote. Should it pass there, it will advance to Trump for his signature. Paul critiqued the GOP’s decision-making surrounding the bill, framing it as a choice between addressing the debt ceiling or providing incentives for Alaska. “They chose to add more pork and subsidies for Alaska to secure that,” Paul conveyed to Nobles, prompting Murkowski to respond to his characterization of her support for the bill.
Visibly taken aback, Murkowski expressed her obligation to Alaskans, stating, “I fight for my state’s interests, and I make sure that Alaskans are understood… when people suggest that federal dollars go to one of our 50 states in a quote, bailout, I find that offensive.”
Following the vote, Murkowski described her decision as “agonizing” and expressed hope that the House would consider amendments rather than rush the bill to meet Trump’s ambitious deadline of July 4, Independence Day. “We do not have a perfect bill by any stretch of the imagination. My hope is that the House is going to look at this and recognize that we’re not there yet,” she said.
In response to her comments, Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts criticized Murkowski, questioning her decision to vote in favor of a bill she deemed inadequate. “My question to her is, If you really believe that, why the hell did you vote for this bill?” McGovern asserted. Similarly, Rep. Daniel Goldman from New York expressed his disbelief on social media, stating, “Murkowski votes yes and hopes it doesn’t pass… It’s pretty simple: words don’t matter. Votes do.”
