Senate Republicans Advance Trump Budget, Setting Up Clash with House GOP
The Senate is moving forward with a key piece of former President Donald Trump’s agenda, potentially bypassing House Republicans and igniting a dispute over legislative strategy. On Tuesday night, Senate Republicans advanced a budget resolution in a 50-47 vote, following its passage through the crucial budget committee last week.
This move signals the Senate GOP’s determination to act swiftly on Trump’s priorities, including border security, defense, and energy. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., emphasized the urgency, stating on X, “It’s time to act on the decisive mandate the American people gave to President Trump in November… That starts this week with passing Chairman [Sen. Lindsey Graham’s] budget. Let’s get it done.”
Diverging Strategies: Senate’s Two-Pronged Approach vs. House’s Single Bill
The Senate maneuvered past a procedural hurdle on its preferred Trump budget bill after leapfrogging the House Republicans who were expected to take the lead on the process. (Getty Images / Getty Images)
The Senate’s plan involves a two-pronged budget reconciliation approach. The first bill would address border security, fossil fuel energy, and national defense. A second bill, planned for later in the year, would focus on extending Trump-era tax cuts from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which are set to expire at the end of 2025.
In contrast, House Republicans have favored a single, comprehensive reconciliation bill encompassing all of Trump’s agenda items. This difference in approach is fueling a growing disagreement between the two chambers.
Reconciliation: A Key Legislative Tool
The reconciliation process is crucial because it lowers the threshold for passing legislation in the Senate from 60 votes to a simple majority of 51. With a 53-vote majority, Senate Republicans are positioned to advance their agenda without needing Democratic support.
House Opposition and Potential Stalemate
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. said the bill would be dead on arrival in the House. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has expressed strong opposition to the Senate’s approach, calling it a “nonstarter.” He stated, “There is no animus or daylight between us. We all are trying to get to the same achievable objectives… And there’s just, you know, different ideas on how to get there.”
House Republicans argue that pursuing two separate bills could jeopardize the passage of tax cuts later in the year, given their slim and often divided majority. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., has urged his colleagues to support the House’s single-bill approach, encompassing all of Trump’s priorities.
Added a video from the article to feature here
‘Kudlow’ panelists Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Texas, and Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., discuss delivering on President Donald Trump’s agenda.
Next Steps: “Vote-a-Rama” and Potential Amendments
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., moved the budget bill through his committee last week. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images / Getty Images)
The Senate’s advancement of the budget resolution triggers a 50-hour debate clock. Following this, a “vote-a-rama” is anticipated, where senators can propose an unlimited number of amendments to the resolution. This process could force Republicans to take numerous politically sensitive votes.
The Senate must continue voting on amendments as long as they are offered. Only after the 50-hour debate clock expires can the Senate vote on the final passage of the reconciliation resolution. The outcome of this legislative maneuvering remains uncertain, but it’s clear that a significant clash between the House and Senate GOP is brewing.
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