Newt Gingrich Explains Why Voting Against BBB Is ‘A Vote To Retire’

Former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Wednesday on Fox News’ “Hannity” that House Republicans voting against President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” is a “vote to retire,” arguing that opposing the legislation means going against the “absolute center” of the president’s agenda.

After the Senate passed the budget legislation on Tuesday, House Republicans held a vote, with four GOP lawmakers voting “no” and currently halting the bill as of Wednesday evening. However, because Republicans hold the majority, Fox’s Sean Hannity asked Gingrich to explain the process as the vote will remain open until Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson concludes the session.

“Well, I mean, first of all, you get to the final point where you’ve talked and you’ve talked and you’ve talked and you decide to roll the dice and you say to people, ‘OK, yes or no.’ You’re in public. You can’t hide, and your hope is that they will break yes for your side. If they break no, you then can keep the vote open. That’s the great power of the majority,” Gingrich said.

“You just keep the vote open and keep talking to them. I think the all time record was converting one member after seven hours. But I think you work it from that angle,”Gingrich added. “You also communicate clearly that a no vote here for a Republican, not only is a vote for the largest tax increase in history, but it’s probably a vote to retire. No vote here on President Trump’s biggest domestic policy and the absolute center of his administration is a vote that is suicidal. I think that that will be communicated to them in a pretty big, vivid and direct way.”

After lengthy negotiations and concerns from GOP senators about provisions of the legislation, the “big, beautiful bill” passed with a 51-50 Senate vote, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote. Republican Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Josh Hawley of Missouri raised issues with the bill’s provisions concerning the debt ceiling, Medicaid reforms and Biden-era green energy subsidies from the Inflation Reduction Act. (RELATED: ‘Party Of Lame’: Fox’s Lawrence Jones Says Democrats Missed Out Getting What They Wanted Out Of Big, Beautiful Bill)

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In addition to struggling in the Senate, the bill had narrowly passed through the House in May, with Republican Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Warren Davidson of Ohio voting “no.” Gingrich continued to point out that Massie has already “experienced” backlash for opposing the bill, noting his re-election could face consequences for pushing back against Trump.

“Look, in the end, this is real simple for Republicans. President Trump has staked everything on moving the economy, on reforming the government, on freeing up energy, on a whole range of issues in this bill. The people have been working on this bill for 14 months. And you’re either on the team or you’re not on the team. Is the bill perfect? No, it’s not perfect,” Gingrich continued. “Is it the best we could get out of the U.S. Senate? Which by the way, remember, had a 50-50 vote with the tie broken by the vice president.”

“So Senator Thune couldn’t carry it one inch further or it would have failed. Now you have a choice now as a House Republican. You can take this bill, recognize it’s going to be future bills, it’s going to be future executive orders, it’s going to be future appropriations. You can work out an agreement to get the things you need to feel good about voting yes. Or you can be the person who torpedoes the bill and has the entire Republican Party at every level deciding that you shouldn’t be in politics. I think it’s going to come right down to that,” Gingrich said.

According to NBC News, the current four Republican representatives voting “no” on the bill are Keith Self of Texas, Victoria Spartz of Indiana, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Andrew Clyde of Georgia as of Wednesday evening. Reportedly after voting “no,” Fitzpatrick quickly left the chamber, with Republican lawmakers attempting to find him on the floor, and Republican South Dakota Rep. Dusty Johnson trying to reach him by phone, NBC News reported.

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