RINO REPUBLICANS IN RESCISSIONS RIFT?

THERE IS CONFUSION AMONG THE RINOS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY GOING INTO THE RECESSION VOTE

As Congress races to finalize the Rescissions Act of 2025, a $9 billion package slashing funds for foreign aid and public broadcasting, a surprising faction of Republicans has chosen to align with Democrats—raising the stakes of a deeply contentious vote.

🔍 Who’s Crossing the Aisle?

Senator	Party/System	Why They Opposed
Susan Collins (R–Maine)	Longstanding moderate	Voted No on rescission in the Senate’s 51–48 vote—citing concerns about transparency, harm to rural PBS/NPR services, and humanitarian impactsPolitico+15The Washington Post+15Rocky Mountain PBS+15Brownstein.
Lisa Murkowski (R–Alaska)	Centrist/independent streak	Also cast a No, highlighting potential damage to global health programs and public media The Washington PostGovernment ExecutiveBrownstein.
Mitch McConnell (R–Kentucky)	GOP establishment leader	Joined procedural opposition to the original package, warning against ceding power to the executive PoliticoPolitico.

Together, Collins and Murkowski provided the critical margin that delayed approval, showing a fracture within the GOP on unilateral spending cuts—even on a Trump priority.

Why It’s Crucial to Pass the Rescission As Is

• Already trimmed once: The Senate knock­ed $400 million off the initial $9.4 billion request—restoring HIV/AIDS relief via PEPFAR and exempting critical global health, food aid, and country-specific support (Jordan, Egypt)Politico Pro+15Wikipedia+15The Washington Post+15.

• Avoids endless delay: More changes would risk a veto showdown, procedural delays, or renewed dependence on dozens of swing votes and uncertain amendments.

• Preserves fiscal leverage: Republican leadership argues that further delay would erode future ability to use rescissions as a check on government spending—leaving previously appropriated funds untouched.

• Prevents shutdown: Building consensus now—even amid internal GOP dissent—helps clear a path ahead of looming deadlines to fund government operations without a shutdown.

With the Deadline Looming

Congress must act by July 18 to avoid nullifying the rescission package and triggering a government funding reset. Moderate Republicans—like Collins and Murkowski—have turned up pressure for more studied appropriations, but their opposition does not negate the cuts already enacted.

House passage of the original rescission looked precarious (214–212), with moderate Republicans like Brian Fitzpatrick (PA) and Mike Turner (OH) siding with Democrats to slow itPolitico+12businessinsider.com+12Reuters+12Brownstein+14Wikipedia+14Wikipedia+14Politico+1AP News+1The Washington Post+2opb+2Democrats Abroad+2.

Final Take: Unity Is Optional—but Action Isn’t

• The Rescissions Act has passed both chambers in a form that balances stretched fiscal priorities and retained key health protections.

• Diluting or rewriting the bill now risks unraveling bipartisan concessions, reigniting budget standoffs, and potentially forcing a politically painful slowdown in global aid and public media funding.

• With Congress mindful of another shutdown on the horizon, holding the line—even amid intra-party friction—may be the most pragmatic path to preserving budget authority and delivering on legislative agendas.

As the vote approaches, watch closely: if even one of the moderates flips, the razor-thin margins could shift again. But for GOP leadership, the central message is clear—standing firm on the rescission now strengthens the hand for future budget talks and keeps government funded without derailment.