#section203

So, Paxton vs Free Speech Coalition and Birthright Citizenship + National Injunction cases will be settled most certainly tomorrow.

Keep an eye and ear out.

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Now onto the Spending Bill news!

Here is a combined summary of all the updates from the Politico articles I checked:

The Republican-led "megabill" (also referred to as the "One Big Beautiful Bill") is facing numerous challenges and undergoing significant revisions due to rulings by Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough and internal disagreements within the GOP. Republicans are pushing to pass this comprehensive domestic policy bill—which includes tax, defense, energy, immigration, and health care provisions—before a self-imposed July 4 deadline, using the budget reconciliation process to bypass a Democratic filibuster.

Key Challenges and Parliamentarian Rulings:

Medicaid Provisions: The parliamentarian has dealt a major blow to the GOP's health care plans by ruling that several key Medicaid provisions cannot pass with a simple majority. This includes a plan to reduce Medicaid costs by cracking down on state provider taxes, which was expected to generate substantial savings, and proposals to exclude undocumented residents from Medicaid. These rulings have created an estimated $250 billion budgetary shortfall for Republicans.

Civil Service and Pension Reform: Initial proposals to restructure the federal workforce, such as giving federal employees an "at-will" designation and billing unions for official activities, were ruled out of order by the parliamentarian. Republicans are now exploring changes to their pension reform plan, proposing to increase federal employees' retirement contributions to 15.6 percent (from 9.4 percent) to help fund the megabill, though members of Congress, their staff, and federal law enforcement would be exempt. Democrats and unions strongly oppose these changes.

CFPB Funding: Senate Banking Republicans are proposing to cap the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) funding at 6.5 percent of the Federal Reserve's operating budget, a reduction from the current 12 percent. An initial attempt to eliminate CFPB funding entirely was deemed ineligible. This new proposal awaits parliamentarian approval.

AI Moratorium: The parliamentarian has requested Senator Ted Cruz rewrite a proposed 10-year moratorium on enforcing state artificial intelligence (AI) laws, clarifying its scope of funding. While the measure is tied to a new $500 million fund for AI infrastructure, concerns remain that it could implicitly affect the entire $42 billion broadband program. The AI moratorium has also created divisions within the Republican party.

"Revenge Tax": Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has asked lawmakers to remove a projected $52 billion "revenge tax" from the megabill, stating it is no longer necessary due to a "new understanding" with other developed countries regarding a global tax agreement, where central taxes will not apply to U.S. companies.

Overruling Parliamentarian: Despite calls from some conservative Republicans to do so, Senate Majority Leader John Thune has stated that the Senate will not move to overrule Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough, emphasizing the importance of preserving Senate norms.

Approved Provisions:

SNAP Plan: The parliamentarian has approved a modified version of the Republican plan to shift some costs of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) onto states. This is a significant win for Republicans, as it allows them to maintain a crucial $41 billion spending cut for the bill.

Internal Republican Divisions & Negotiations:

Medicaid Moderates: The proposed reduction of provider taxes in Medicaid expansion states is facing a "Medicaid-fueled mutiny" from moderate senators like Susan Collins, who find the proposed $15 billion rural hospital stabilization fund "inadequate." Some are threatening to block floor debate without more clarity on Medicaid changes.

SALT Deduction: Blue-state Republicans have rejected a Treasury offer to raise the cap on the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction to $40,000, calling it "unrealistic." This remains a key unresolved issue.

Public Land Sales: Five House Republicans have declared a "red line" against including public land sales in the megabill, threatening to vote against it. They view it as a "grave mistake" and a "poison pill." This provision also faces strong Senate opposition.

Leadership Meetings & Deadlines:

Senate Majority Leader John Thune met with President Donald Trump at the White House as Republicans work against their self-imposed July 4 deadline. There is skepticism among some in the Senate GOP about whether they can get the bill to the President by this deadline. An initial vote to begin debate on the bill is now not expected before Saturday.

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly (D) anticipates that Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), despite his objections to certain bill provisions, will ultimately vote with his party due to pressure from the comprehensive nature of the megabill.

The combination of parliamentarian rulings, internal Republican dissent, and complex negotiations across various policy areas is making the passage of the "megabill" a challenging and fluid process.

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It seems that the bill is still being worked on so contact your Senators on troublesome provisions, reminding them to invoke the Byrd Rule against troublesome provisions should a procedural vote come before a new text is released.

General Page to call on the bill:

Page to call against Section 203, the provision that targets courts by requiring an expensive bond be payed to sue the government:

Page on AI regulation Ban:

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I know about what’s going on in Iran but I will remain focused on this threat to courts.

Contact your Senators and have them call out Section 203!