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FIRST ON FOX: The Senate is poised to take the lead ahead of House Republicans next week by advancing an initial bill as part of a critical budget reconciliation process focusing on budgetary matters, defense, and energy policies.
At a weekly luncheon hosted by Senate Steering Committee Chairman Rick Scott, R-S.C., Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., outlined a strategy to bring forward a vote on a preliminary bill, with the prospect of another reconciliation bill later in the year, according to a Senate Republican insider.
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This strategy aims to bypass the House, typically the first chamber to consider such legislation.
Moreover, it proposes a dual-path approach to reconciliation, diverging from the preferences of several House Republicans who favor a singular, comprehensive bill.
Graham has been in communication with leaders from the House Freedom Caucus throughout the week, with sources indicating the caucus is leaning toward the Senate’s two-bill approach, which contrasts with the House’s broader framework.
Concerns about this situation began emerging within the House Republican conference, with one GOP member expressing frustration to Fox News Digital. “There’s a lot of irritation at the moment,” they remarked.
“While they’ve been trying to include everyone, not every open forum they’ve provided is giving members a sense that they are being heard,” the lawmaker added. “There’s growing anxiety that if we don’t take action soon, the Senate might push us aside.”
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Former President Trump has indicated a preference for a singular bill approach in the past but has refrained from insisting on it, expressing a desire to expedite the reconciliation process while leaving the final outcome to congressional decision-making.
A Senate GOP source also noted that senior officials from the White House were in attendance at the steering committee lunch on Wednesday.
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