Fact Check: "MacDonough ruled out major provisions of the bill, infuriating the GOP."
What We Know
The claim that "MacDonough ruled out major provisions of the bill, infuriating the GOP" refers to the actions of Elizabeth MacDonough, the Senate parliamentarian, concerning the budget reconciliation process in the U.S. Senate. MacDonough plays a crucial role in determining which provisions can be included in reconciliation bills, which can pass with a simple majority rather than the typical 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster.
In early 2021, MacDonough ruled against including certain immigration provisions in the Democrats' $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package. This decision was met with significant backlash from Democratic lawmakers, who felt that the ruling undermined their efforts to provide a pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants. The GOP, on the other hand, expressed satisfaction with the ruling, viewing it as a limitation on what they considered excessive spending and policy changes included in the bill (source, source).
Analysis
The reliability of the sources discussing MacDonough's ruling varies. Major news outlets like CNN and The New York Times reported on the incident, providing context and reactions from both parties. These sources are generally considered credible due to their established journalistic standards and fact-checking processes. For instance, CNN reported that MacDonough's decision was a setback for Democrats and highlighted the frustration among progressive lawmakers (source).
Conversely, some opinion pieces and less established websites may present a biased perspective, either overly criticizing or praising MacDonough's ruling without providing balanced viewpoints. It is essential to differentiate between news reporting and opinion commentary to assess the reliability of the information presented.
The claim itself is partially misleading. While it accurately states that MacDonough ruled out significant provisions, it does not clarify that this ruling was met with mixed reactions, particularly from the GOP, who were generally pleased with the decision. Thus, the claim could imply a more unified GOP response than actually occurred.
Conclusion
Verdict: Needs Research
The claim that "MacDonough ruled out major provisions of the bill, infuriating the GOP" requires further investigation. While it is true that MacDonough ruled out significant provisions, the reaction from the GOP was not uniformly negative. Many GOP members welcomed the ruling as a victory against what they viewed as excessive Democratic spending. Therefore, the claim oversimplifies a complex situation and does not fully represent the nuances of the political reactions involved.
