Senate Dems, GOP Susan Collins reject BBB amendment cutting Medicaid for illegal immigrants

An amendment that would have stripped some Medicaid funding from states that provide coverage to illegal immigrants has failed after it was unable to reach 60 votes. This comes as a marathon voting session is underway in the Senate in an effort to work through the Big Beautiful Bill.

43 Democrats and Maine Republican Susan Collins voted against the amendment, resulting in it not reaching the 60-vote threshold. Four Democrats sided with Republicans in voting for the amendment: Sens. Jon Ossoff, Raphael Warnock, Catherine Cortez Masto, and Maggie Hassan.

Cornyn, who brought forth the amendment, wrote, "43 Democrats just BLOCKED my amendment to punish states that give Medicaid benefits to illegal aliens convicted or charged with crimes like murder or sex trafficking. Democrats chose to side with the worst of the worst in our society over our seniors and most vulnerable American citizens. Disgusting."

A separate amendment from Senator Marsha Blackburn, which would have prohibited illegal immigrants from receiving Medicaid, was also blocked in the chamber in a 53-47 vote. The amendment also needed 60 votes to continue. 

Blackburn wrote after the vote, "Democrats just blocked my amendment to stop illegal immigrants from receiving Medicaid coverage. Why do they want illegal aliens to receive government benefits on the taxpayers’ dime?"

This comes as Senators have been in a marathon voting session on Monday ahead of the July 4 deadline to get Trump's Big Beautiful Bill passed. The Senate passed a procedural vote on Sunday 51 to 49 in favor of advancing the bill, which contains many on Trump's campaign promises.