About 40 minutes from the time that Republican leaders told senators to take their seats in the chamber in anticipation of a final vote on Trump’s megabill, Republican leaders like Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso are still not on the floor.
Neither are key holdouts including Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, Ron Johnson, Rick Scott, Mike Lee or Cynthia Lummis.
Plus, Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough is still sitting behind the dais, feverishly shuffling through papers. There are about 10 staff members surrounding her, along with six or seven sheets of what is presumably the bill laid in front of her.
It appears to be a sort of live Byrd Bath, as key provisions still need to be ruled on — all with the fate of Trump’s megabill still on the line.
-ABC News’ Isabella Murray