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Business Wire
7 hours ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Murphy USA Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2025 Results
EL DORADO, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Murphy USA Inc. (NYSE: MUSA), a leading marketer of retail motor fuel products and convenience merchandise, today announced financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025. 'Second quarter results highlighted the resiliency of Murphy USA's advantaged model, delivering stronger financial results despite relatively low fuel price volatility and slightly weaker customer traffic,' said President and CEO Andrew Clyde. Key Highlights: Net income was $145.6 million, or $7.36 per diluted share, in Q2 2025 compared to net income of $144.8 million, or $6.92 per diluted share, in Q2 2024. Total fuel contribution for Q2 2025 was 32.0 cpg, compared to 31.7 cpg in Q2 2024. Total retail gallons decreased 0.2%, and volumes on a same store sales ("SSS") basis declined 3.2%, in Q2 2025 compared to Q2 2024. Merchandise contribution dollars for Q2 2025 increased 1.0% to $218.7 million on average unit margins of 20.0%, compared to Q2 2024 contribution dollars of $216.5 million on unit margins of 20.0%. During Q2 2025, the Company repurchased approximately 470.7 thousand common shares for $211.9 million at an average price of $450.25 per share. The Company paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.50 per share, or $2.00 per share on an annualized basis, on June 2, 2025, a 2.0% increase from March of 2025, for a total cash payment of $9.8 million. 'Second quarter results highlighted the resiliency of Murphy USA's advantaged model, delivering stronger financial results despite relatively low fuel price volatility and slightly weaker customer traffic,' said President and CEO Andrew Clyde. 'Supply margins improved modestly in the second quarter, driving all-in fuel margins of 32 cents per gallon, up 30 basis points versus the prior-year quarter. We remain focused on store profitability, as evidenced by favorable sequential and y-o-y comparisons in store operating expenses and general and administrative costs. Our NTI store program is gaining momentum, and we are poised to deliver 50 new stores over the next 12 month period, which will help drive EBITDA growth into 2026 and beyond.' Consolidated Results Both Net income and Adjusted EBITDA for Q2 2025 were improved versus the prior-year quarter. Contribution for both fuel and merchandise were higher in the current year quarter and general and administrative expenses, payment fees, and income taxes were each lower in the current year quarter. These benefits were partially offset by higher depreciation and amortization, higher store operating expenses, and higher interest expense resulting in higher net income for Q2 2025 versus the prior-year. Adjusted EBITDA was $7.4 million higher in the current-year quarter. Fuel Total fuel contribution dollars of $393.0 million increased $2.7 million, or 0.7%, in Q2 2025 compared to Q2 2024 primarily due to higher total fuel contribution margins partially offset by lower retail fuel volumes sold during the quarter. Retail fuel contribution dollars decreased $6.1 million, or 1.7%, to $359.1 million compared to Q2 2024 due to lower retail fuel margins combined with slightly lower volumes sold. In Q2 2025, retail fuel margins were 29.2 cpg, a 1.7% decrease versus the prior-year quarter, and overall retail volumes were 0.2% lower compared to the prior-year quarter. PS&W contribution including RINs increased $8.8 million when compared to Q2 2024, primarily due to timing of inventory movements and pricing impacts related to market conditions. Merchandise Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, Key Operating Metrics 2025 2024 2025 2024 Total merchandise contribution ($ Millions) $ 218.7 $ 216.5 $ 414.6 $ 408.1 Total merchandise sales ($ Millions) $ 1,092.4 $ 1,080.4 $ 2,091.8 $ 2,081.1 Total merchandise sales ($K SSS) 1,2 $ 210.5 $ 211.3 $ 201.5 $ 203.2 Merchandise unit margin (%) 20.0 % 20.0 % 19.8 % 19.6 % Nicotine contribution ($K SSS) 1,2 $ 20.0 $ 20.0 $ 19.3 $ 19.2 Non-nicotine contribution ($K SSS) 1,2 $ 22.8 $ 22.8 $ 21.3 $ 21.1 Total merchandise contribution ($K SSS) 1,2 $ 42.8 $ 42.8 $ 40.6 $ 40.3 1 2024 amounts not revised for 2025 raze-and-rebuild activity 2 Includes store-level discounts for redemptions and excludes changes in value of unredeemed points associated with our loyalty program(s) Expand Total merchandise contribution increased $2.2 million, or 1.0%, to $218.7 million in Q2 2025 compared to the prior-year quarter, primarily driven by higher overall merchandise sales volumes. Total nicotine contribution dollars increased 1.4% and non-nicotine contribution dollars increased 0.6% in Q2 2025 compared to Q2 2024. Other Areas Total store and other operating expenses were $5.3 million higher in Q2 2025 versus Q2 2024, mainly due to increases in net new store operating expenses combined with higher employee related expenses and maintenance costs at existing stores. Store OPEX excluding payment fees and rent on an APSM basis were 1.7% higher versus Q2 2024, primarily attributable to increased employee related expenses and maintenance costs. Total SG&A costs for Q2 2025 were $8.2 million lower than Q2 2024, primarily due to lower professional fees, lower incentive costs and lower employee related costs in the period. Store Openings The tables below reflect changes in our store portfolio in Q2 2025: Net Change in Q2 2025 Murphy USA / Express QuickChek Total New-to-industry ("NTI") 5 1 6 Closed — (1 ) (1 ) Net change 5 — 5 Raze-and-rebuilds reopened in Q2* 9 — 9 Under Construction at End of Q2 NTI 25 — 25 Raze-and-rebuilds* 14 — 14 Total under construction at end of Q2 39 — 39 Net Change YTD in 2025 NTI 13 1 14 Closed (2 ) (3 ) (5 ) Net change 11 (2 ) 9 Raze-and-rebuilds reopened YTD* 9 — 9 Store count at June 30, 2025* 1,612 154 1,766 *Store counts include raze-and-rebuild stores Expand Financial Resources As of June 30, Key Financial Metrics 2025 2024 Cash and cash equivalents ($ Millions) $ 54.1 $ 79.8 Marketable securities, current ($ Millions) $ — $ 4.5 Marketable securities, non-current ($ Millions) $ — $ 3.0 Long-term debt, including finance lease obligations ($ Millions) $ 2,066.7 $ 1,781.4 Expand As of June 30, 2025, cash balances totaled $54.1 million. Long-term debt consisted of approximately $299.1 million in carrying value of 5.625% senior notes due 2027, $496.9 million in carrying value of 4.75% senior notes due 2029, $495.7 million in carrying value of 3.75% senior notes due 2031, and $584.4 million of term debt due 2032, combined with approximately $102.6 million in long-term finance leases. In addition, long-term debt included $88.0 million in outstanding borrowings under the $750 million revolving credit facility due 2030. At June 30, 2025, the Company had common shares outstanding of 19,292,355. Common shares repurchased during the quarter were approximately 470.7 thousand shares for $211.9 million. As of June 30, 2025, approximately $578.0 million remained available under the existing $1.5 billion 2023 authorization. The effective income tax rate was approximately 24.4% for Q2 2025 compared to 25.1% in Q2 2024. The Company paid a quarterly cash dividend on June 2, 2025 of $0.50 per share, or $2.00 per share on an annualized basis, a 2.0% increase from March of 2025, for a total cash payment of $9.8 million. The total amount paid in dividends year-to-date is $19.6 million, or $0.99 per share. Earnings Call Information The Company will host a conference call on July 31, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. Central Time to discuss second quarter 2025 results. The call can be accessed via webcast through the Investor Relations section of the Murphy USA website at If you are unable to attend via webcast, the conference call number is 1 (888) 330-2384 and the conference ID number is 6680883. The earnings and investor related materials, including reconciliations of any non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP financial measures and any other applicable disclosures, will be available on that same day on the investor section of the Murphy USA website ( Approximately one hour after the conclusion of the conference, the webcast will be available for replay. Shortly thereafter, a transcript will be available. Source: Murphy USA Inc. (NYSE: MUSA) Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain statements or may suggest 'forward-looking' information (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) that involve risk and uncertainties, including, but not limited to our M&A activity, anticipated store openings and associated capital expenditures, fuel margins, merchandise margins, sales of RINs, trends in our operations, dividends, and share repurchases. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the Company's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual future results may differ materially from historical results or current expectations depending upon factors including, but not limited to: our ability to continue to maintain a good business relationship with Walmart; successful execution of our growth strategy, including our ability to realize the anticipated benefits from such growth initiatives, and the timely completion of construction associated with our newly planned stores which may be impacted by the financial health of third parties; our ability to effectively manage our inventory, manage disruptions in our supply chain and our ability to control costs; geopolitical events, such as evolving international trade policies and the imposition of reciprocal tariffs and the conflicts in the Middle East, that impact the supply and demand and price of crude oil; the impact of severe weather events, such as hurricanes, floods and earthquakes; the impact of a global health pandemic and any governmental response thereto; the impact of any systems failures, cybersecurity and/or security breaches of the company or its vendor partners, including any security breach that results in theft, transfer or unauthorized disclosure of customer, employee or company information or our compliance with information security and privacy laws and regulations in the event of such an incident; successful execution of our information technology strategy; reduced demand for our products due to the implementation of more stringent fuel economy and greenhouse gas reduction requirements, or increasingly widespread adoption of electric vehicle technology; future nicotine or e-cigarette legislation and any other efforts that make purchasing nicotine products more costly or difficult could hurt our revenues and impact gross margins; our ability to successfully expand our food and beverage offerings; efficient and proper allocation of our capital resources, including the timing, declaration, amount and payment of any future dividends or levels of the Company's share repurchases, or management of operating cash; the market price of the Company's stock prevailing from time to time, the nature of other investment opportunities presented to the Company from time to time, the Company's cash flows from operations, and general economic conditions; compliance with debt covenants; availability and cost of credit; and changes in interest rates. Our SEC reports, including our most recent annual Report on Form 10-K and quarterly report on Form 10-Q, contain other information on these and other factors that could affect our financial results and cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking information we may provide. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events, new information or future circumstances. Murphy USA Inc. Segment Operating Results (Unaudited) (Millions of dollars, except revenue per same store sales (in thousands) and store counts) Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, Marketing Segment 2025 2024 2025 2024 Operating Revenues Petroleum product sales $ 3,851.4 $ 4,340.5 $ 7,341.2 $ 8,152.2 Merchandise sales 1,092.4 1,080.4 2,091.8 2,081.1 Other operating revenues 61.2 30.8 97.3 62.0 Total operating revenues 5,005.0 5,451.7 9,530.3 10,295.3 Operating expenses Petroleum products cost of goods sold 3,519.2 3,980.2 6,757.5 7,536.3 Merchandise cost of goods sold 873.7 863.9 1,677.2 1,673.0 Store and other operating expenses 275.2 269.8 541.2 521.9 Depreciation and amortization 59.6 55.7 121.1 110.6 Selling, general and administrative 50.9 59.1 111.0 121.2 Accretion of asset retirement obligations 0.8 0.8 1.7 1.6 Total operating expenses 4,779.4 5,229.5 9,209.7 9,964.6 Gain (loss) on sale of assets — (1.0 ) (0.3 ) (1.1 ) Income (loss) from operations 225.6 221.2 320.3 329.6 Other income (expense) Interest expense (2.0 ) (2.1 ) (3.9 ) (4.2 ) Total other income (expense) (2.0 ) (2.1 ) (3.9 ) (4.2 ) Income (loss) before income taxes 223.6 219.1 316.4 325.4 Income tax expense (benefit) 55.7 55.3 69.4 76.1 Net income (loss) from operations $ 167.9 $ 163.8 $ 247.0 $ 249.3 Total nicotine sales revenue same store sales 1,2 $ 133.1 $ 135.0 $ 128.1 $ 130.5 Total non-nicotine sales revenue same store sales 1,2 77.4 76.3 73.4 72.7 Total merchandise sales revenue same store sales 1,2 $ 210.5 $ 211.3 $ 201.5 $ 203.2 1 2024 amounts not revised for 2025 raze-and-rebuild activity 2 Includes store-level discounts for redemptions and excludes changes in value of unredeemed points associated with our loyalty program(s) Expand Notes Average Per Store Month (APSM) metric includes all stores open through the date of the calculation, including stores acquired during the period. Same store sales (SSS) metric includes aggregated individual store results for all stores open throughout both periods presented. For all periods presented, the store must have been open for the entire calendar year to be included in the comparison. Remodeled stores that remained open or were closed for just a very brief time (less than a month) during the period being compared remain in the same store sales calculation. If a store is replaced either at the same location (raze-and-rebuild) or relocated to a new location, it will be excluded from the calculation during the period it is out of service. Newly constructed stores do not enter the calculation until they are open for each full calendar year for the periods being compared (open by January 1, 2024 for the stores being compared in the 2025 versus 2024 comparison). Acquired stores are not included in the calculation of same store sales for the first 12 months after the acquisition. When prior period same store sales volumes or sales are presented, they have not been revised for current year activity for raze-and-rebuilds and asset dispositions. QuickChek uses a weekly retail calendar where each quarter has 13 weeks. The QuickChek results for Q2 2025 covers the period March 29, 2025 to June 27, 2025 and the 2025 year-to-date covers the period December 28, 2024 to June 27, 2025. The QuickChek results for Q2 2024 covers the period March 30, 2024 to June 28, 2024 and the 2024 year-to-date covers the period December 30, 2023 to June 28, 2024. The difference in the timing of the period ends is immaterial to the overall consolidated results. Murphy USA Inc. Consolidated Balance Sheets (Millions of dollars, except share amounts) June 30, 2025 (unaudited) Assets Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 54.1 $ 47.0 Accounts receivable—trade, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $0.4 and $0.3 at 2025 and 2024, respectively 296.3 268.5 Inventories, at lower of cost or market 397.5 401.6 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 28.5 31.0 Total current assets 776.4 748.1 Property, plant and equipment, at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization of $2,042.9 and $1,931.4 at 2025 and 2024, respectively 2,854.5 2,813.2 Operating lease right of use assets, net 503.2 492.9 Intangible assets, net of amortization 139.4 139.5 Goodwill 328.0 328.0 Other assets 20.7 19.9 Total assets $ 4,622.2 $ 4,541.6 Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Current liabilities Current maturities of long-term debt $ 14.5 $ 15.7 Trade accounts payable and accrued liabilities 915.9 874.4 Income taxes payable 45.7 57.8 Total current liabilities 976.1 947.9 Long-term debt, including capitalized lease obligations 2,066.7 1,832.7 Deferred income taxes 343.3 343.4 Asset retirement obligations 50.3 49.1 Non-current operating lease liabilities 508.4 496.3 Deferred credits and other liabilities 31.3 32.1 Total liabilities 3,976.1 3,701.5 Stockholders' Equity Preferred Stock, par $0.01 (authorized 20,000,000 shares, none outstanding) — — Common Stock, par $0.01 (authorized 200,000,000 shares, 46,767,164 shares issued at 2025 and 2024, respectively) 0.5 0.5 Treasury stock (27,474,809 and 26,750,846 shares held at 2025 and 2024, respectively) (3,745.9 ) (3,391.3 ) Additional paid in capital (APIC) 469.1 487.5 Retained earnings 3,922.4 3,743.4 Total stockholders' equity 646.1 840.1 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 4,622.2 $ 4,541.6 Expand Murphy USA Inc. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, (Millions of dollars) 2025 2024 2025 2024 Operating Activities Net income $ 145.6 $ 144.8 $ 198.8 $ 210.8 Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided (required) by operating activities Depreciation and amortization 66.0 59.3 134.2 118.0 Deferred and noncurrent income tax charges (benefits) 1.3 (6.0 ) (0.1 ) (6.5 ) Accretion of asset retirement obligations 0.8 0.8 1.7 1.6 Amortization of discount on marketable securities — — — (0.1 ) (Gains) losses from sale of assets — 1.4 0.3 1.0 Net (increase) decrease in noncash operating working capital 36.8 51.6 37.1 55.8 Other operating activities - net 4.6 8.9 11.6 16.2 Net cash provided (required) by operating activities 255.1 260.8 383.6 396.8 Investing Activities Property additions (118.0 ) (118.0 ) (205.8 ) (194.2 ) Proceeds from sale of assets 1.5 0.6 1.8 1.6 Redemptions of marketable securities — 3.0 — 4.0 Other investing activities - net (0.1 ) (0.1 ) (0.3 ) (0.8 ) Net cash provided (required) by investing activities (116.6 ) (114.5 ) (204.3 ) (189.4 ) Financing Activities Purchase of treasury stock (213.8 ) (106.1 ) (363.8 ) (192.5 ) Dividends paid (9.8 ) (9.1 ) (19.6 ) (17.9 ) Borrowings of debt 1,112.3 120.0 1,782.3 120.0 Repayments of debt (1,013.0 ) (123.9 ) (1,543.0 ) (127.8 ) Debt issuance costs (8.9 ) — (8.9 ) — Amounts related to share-based compensation (0.6 ) (4.1 ) (19.2 ) (27.2 ) Net cash provided (required) by financing activities (133.8 ) (123.2 ) (172.2 ) (245.4 ) Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash 4.7 23.1 7.1 (38.0 ) Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period 49.4 56.7 47.0 117.8 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period $ 54.1 $ 79.8 $ 54.1 $ 79.8 Expand Supplemental Disclosure Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Information The following table reconciles EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024. EBITDA means net income (loss) plus net interest expense, plus income tax expense, depreciation and amortization, and Adjusted EBITDA adds back (i) other non-cash items (e.g., impairment of properties and accretion of asset retirement obligations) and (ii) other items that management does not consider to be meaningful in assessing our operating performance (e.g., (income) from discontinued operations, net settlement proceeds, (gain) loss on sale of assets, loss on early debt extinguishment, transaction and integration costs related to acquisitions, and other non-operating (income) expense). EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not measures that are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). We use Adjusted EBITDA in our operational and financial decision-making, believing that the measure is useful to eliminate certain items in order to focus on what we deem to be a more reliable indicator of ongoing operating performance and our ability to generate cash flow from operations. Adjusted EBITDA is also used by many of our investors, research analysts, investment bankers, and lenders to assess our operating performance. We believe that the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors because it allows understanding of a key measure that we evaluate internally when making operating and strategic decisions, preparing our annual plan, and evaluating our overall performance. However, non-GAAP measures are not a substitute for GAAP disclosures, and EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may be prepared differently by us than by other companies using similarly titled non-GAAP measures. The reconciliation of net income (loss) to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA is as follows:
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Scrap H-1B visa exception: Republicans introduce new bill for prioritizing Americans in universities, ending 'backdoor hiring'
Republican lawmakers introduce a new proposal to end H-1B exception for higher education staff. Amid ongoing aspersions against the H-1B visa program, a new Republican proposal was introduced by Rep Tom Tiffany and Rep Andrew Clyde proposing to scrap the H-1B visa exception for higher education staff. Currently, there is a 65,000-person cap for the H-1B visa and an additional 20,000 persons for those with master's degree and beyond. The "Colleges for the American People Act of 2025" would repeal this additional exception and have those from other countries seeking to work in higher education go through the normal H-1B visa process. "American students spend years earning degrees, only to watch universities hand good-paying jobs to foreign workers on special visas," Tiffany said in a statement. "The CAP Act ensures our institutions invest in the people they are meant to serve and ends the backdoor hiring practices that undercut American workers." The proposal would not be retroactive, so current H-1B visa holders at universities could still apply for their extension without going towards the limit. For fiscal year 2026, US Citizenship and Immigration Services got enough petitions for the H-1B visa caps as of last week. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Unsold 2021 Cars Now Almost Free - Prices May Surprise You Unsold Cars | Search Ads Learn More Undo The proposal comes as the DHS is planning to overhaul the H-1B system and replace the lottery with a wage-based selection. The H-1B remained a contentious issue for the Trump administration, as even before his January inauguration, he courted controversy over this visa program. During his last term, DHS issued a rule to base selection in H-1B petitions on the wage offered for a position. But the rule was shelved by the Biden administration. H1-B process explained H-1B is mostly used by Silicon Valley companies but also by higher education institutions. The US employer first offers a job to a foreign worker, then files a labor condition application with the labor department, agreeing to pay the prevailing wage. The employer submits basic details of the person they hired during the registration window. USCIS runs a random lottery to select as it receives far more registrations than its cap. If selected in the lottery, the employer files Form I-129 with USCIS.
Fox News
7 days ago
- Business
- Fox News
Key immigration proposal vows to end 'backdoor hiring practices' in American universities
EXCLUSIVE: A new Republican proposal introduced on Wednesday would scrap the H-1B visa exception for higher education staff. There is currently a 65,000-person cap for the visa, with exceptions for higher education and other select groups, including an extra 20,000 that can be doled out to those with master's degrees or beyond. The "Colleges for the American People Act of 2025" from Rep. Tom Tiffany would repeal the carveout made in the Immigration and Nationality Act, and have those from other countries seeking to work in higher education go through the normal H-1B visa process. "American students spend years earning degrees, only to watch universities hand good-paying jobs to foreign workers on special visas," Tiffany said in a statement. "The CAP Act ensures our institutions invest in the people they are meant to serve and ends the backdoor hiring practices that undercut American workers." The proposal would not be retroactive, so current H-1B visa holders at universities could still apply for their extension without going towards the limit. The legislation is co-sponsored by Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Georgia. The conservative outlet Wisconsin Right Now reported that there are 495 staffers in Wisconsin's university system who have the visa, which comes with roughly a $43 million annual price tag for salaries. For fiscal year 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services got enough petitions for the H-1B visa caps as of last week. The visas continue to be a major point of debate across the political spectrum, as some argue that they boost business capabilities in the United States, especially in the technology sector. Others, like Sen. Bernie Sanders, have blasted them as exploitative. "The main function of the H-1B visa program and other guest worker initiatives is not to hire 'the best and the brightest,' but rather to replace good-paying American jobs with low-wage indentured servants from abroad," the Vermont senator posted to X in January. "The cheaper the labor they hire, the more money the billionaires make." As of 2019, there were just under 600,000 H-1B visa holders, according to USCIS data. The Trump administration could make other reforms to the program soon, according to GovTech. Besides H-1B visas, student visas in some cases have also recently come under fire, particularly at Harvard University. The State Department announced on Wednesday that they are looking into whether it can continue to be part of the Exchange Visitor Program due to "national security" concerns.
Fox News
21-07-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Congressional Republicans face bruising battle to avoid government shutdown
Congressional Republicans are facing an uphill battle over the next two months to deliver on their promises to cut spending in the next fiscal year – while avoiding a partial government shutdown if no deal is struck."When's the last time we got 12 appropriations bills actually done, and completed in a couple of weeks? It's almost impossible to do," Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Ga., told Fox News Digital last week. Passing 12 individual appropriations bills, each funding separate aspects of the federal government, has been Republicans' goal each time the Sept. 30 fiscal year (FY) deadline nears. But that has not happened since 1996 — FY1997 — and the partisan environment in Washington has only gotten more polarized since. Recent Republican-backed legislation has all but sidelined the once-powerful appropriations committees in both chambers. Meanwhile, House Republicans are more broadly eager to adhere to the Trump administration's request to cut $163 billion from non-defense government spending than their Senate counterparts – which could result in a standoff between the two chambers. "It's looking like it's going to be higher than what the president's budget is. And that, I'm not a fan of," Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., a member of the House Appropriations Committee, told Fox News Digital last week. Another committee Republican, Rep. Riley Moore, said, "I'm really proud of the work the committee has done so far. I do feel like we're gonna be able to get these bills done. The question is, what's the Senate going to do?" Further compounding difficulties between the two sides of the U.S. Capitol is the 60-vote filibuster threshold that most bills in the Senate must ram through. That means that any spending bills have to be bipartisan, but after Senate Republicans advanced President Donald Trump's $9 billion rescissions package, Senate Democrats have warned that they won't play ball. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said that he would like to go ahead with a regular appropriations process, but that Senate Democrats "have signaled that they don't want one." "The Democrats have been very clear," he said. "They are already conferencing the idea of a government shutdown — I don't have any idea, no idea how that is helpful for them or to anyone." Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., previously warned that if Republicans were successful in passing the rescissions package — after icing out Democrats during the budget reconciliation process — that there could be trouble down the road in generating enough bipartisan support to pass spending bills, nonetheless avert a partial government shutdown. Sen. John Hoeven, chair of the Senate Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies appropriations subcommittee, told Fox News Digital that if Democrats planned to block everything, then "what would you expect?" "By working with us, that's how they actually will get some of their priorities," the North Dakota Republican said. "But when they're going to just block us, then why should their priorities be included?" A House Appropriations Committee member who spoke with Fox News Digital on the condition of anonymity indicated that Republican lawmakers are beginning to accept the possibility of a short-term continuing resolution (CR), a stopgap measure extending the previous fiscal year's funding levels in order to keep the government open. "You could see a situation where you're in a short-term CR, and we'll try to negotiate topline numbers and all that," that House lawmaker said. It's a situation that House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., didn't rule out to reporters early last week – while agreeing with Senate Republicans' concerns about Democrats failing to work across the aisle. "I'm always worried about a shutdown, because I think the Democrats have a very hard time bargaining with Donald Trump. I mean, that's why we ended up in a CR," Cole said, referring to the last round of government funding talks that resulted in a CR from March through the end of FY2025. "We offered them a much better deal than a CR, and they couldn't do it. So I hope this time they can, but the temperature on the other side is very high, and Democratic voters are punishing their own members for cooperating on things like keeping the government open." That could create issue with members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, however, who have fiercely pushed back against CRs or "omnibus" spending bills in the past – though no such standoffs have led to a shutdown in recent years. Both House and Senate Republicans are dealing with razor-thin margins of just three votes. House Republicans scored an important victory last week in passing their $832 billion defense funding bill. That, along with the bill funding military construction and Veterans' Affairs, make up more than half of the discretionary budget requested by the White House earlier this year. But they're not expected to hold House-wide votes on any of the remaining 10 bills before early September, when Congress returns from August recess. Senate Republicans are also gearing up to consider their first spending bill, one for military construction and the VA, on Tuesday that will likely end up being a test of how the appropriations process, and likely government funding extension, will play out in the coming months. Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said after the rescissions package passed that she wanted to see the panel return to form, and in doing so, keeping the bipartisan spirit of appropriations alive. "It is unfortunate that many members of this body have voted to make that a whole lot harder," the Washington state Democrat said. One senior House GOP lawmaker who spoke with Fox News Digital ultimately downplayed concerns of a shutdown, however. "The factors of the Senate wanting more money than the House, Democrats wanting more money than Republicans – those have been in place for a generation. And most of the time, shutdowns don't happen," that lawmaker said. "It would seem to me that although the Democrats are big mad about Elon and Trump, and reconciliation, at some point, that temperature's going to fade and people are going to realize that a shutdown doesn't really serve our national interests."
Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Trump blasts 'ridiculous' holdout Republicans as clock ticks on July 4 deadline for Big Beautiful Bill
President Donald Trump was left infuriated as the day began on Thursday and five Republican congressmen refused to advance his One Big Beautiful Bill. The massive spending bill narrowly passed the Senate on Tuesday, and House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson worked throughout the night on Wednesday to convert members of his party who opposed the measure. His goal was to get the landmark legislation passed and on Trump's desk before the Independence Day holiday on Friday. But five Republicans have held up the measure to simply advance the bill. They include Rep. Andrew Clyde, of Georgia; Rep. Victoria Spartz, of Indiana; Rep. Keith Self, of Texas; Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, of Pennsylvania; and Rep. Thomas Massie, of Kentucky. As the bill remained stalled, President Trump took to his Truth Social page to hit out at the 'ridiculous' holdouts. He declared that 'THIS SHOULD BE AN EASY YES VOTE' for Republicans. In another post he asked what the five Republicans who voted against advancing the bill were 'waiting for' and what they were 'trying to prove.' In another post he asked what the five Republicans who voted against advancing the bill were 'waiting for' and what they were 'trying to prove' 'MAGA IS NOT HAPPY, AND IT'S COSTING YOU VOTES!!!' he warned the holdouts as he touted the provisions of his massive spending bill. He claimed it would bring the 'largest tax cuts in history and a booming economy' and that the alternative is the 'biggest tax increase in history and a failed economy.' White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also hit out at the Republicans who voted 'no' on advancing the Big Beautiful Bill. 'Anyone who votes AGAINST the One Big Beautiful Bill is voting AGAINST: No Tax on Tips No Tax on Overtime No Tax on Social Security,' she wrote on social media. But the Republicans who voted against the measure have disagreed, with members of the House Freedom Caucus expressing concerns about the bill's increased spending levels, provisions allowing government benefits for some illegal immigrants and funding for Biden-era renewable energy policies. They seemed to have been bolstered by Republican Sen. Rand Paul, who signaled he would stand by their efforts 'to add 'real savings' to Big Not So Beautiful Bill.' He also wrote on social media that he assured his colleagues in the House 'that I can vote to allow a larger increase in debt ceiling if House attaches immediate REAL spending cuts.' Trump had tried to smooth the matter over with some House Republicans ahead of the vote on Wednesday, hosting groups of lawmakers at the White House so that he could convince them to support his policy package. The president specifically met with some moderate Republicans and some far-right conservatives and was able to get some to commit to backing his bill. With that in mind, Trump seemed hopeful about the bill advancing. He wrote on his Truth Social page Wednesday that he 'had GREAT conversations all day, and the Republican House Majority is UNITED, for the Good of our Country, delivering the Biggest Tax Cuts in History and MASSIVE Growth. 'Let's go Republicans, and everyone else - MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN,' the president wrote at the time. But Trump and House Speaker Johnson's efforts apparently hit a snag when the House Freedom Caucus began circulating a three-page memo highlighting their gripes with the Senate version of the bill. In effect, the memo was a laundry list of complaints about how the Senate watered down the House's more conservative bill.
