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Republican Senators Prepare for Budget Resolution on Key Issues
Senate Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is set to update Republican senators on a proposed budget resolution during a meeting on Wednesday. This initiative aims to spearhead a legislative package that addresses border security, energy, and defense funding, with the intention of passing it through the Senate with a simple majority. This movement comes as House Republicans find themselves unable to agree on a coherent plan moving forward.
The plan put forth by Graham and other Senate Republicans aims to advance the initial phase of former President Trump’s policy agenda. This includes a budget reconciliation proposal that allocates approximately $100 billion towards enhancing security at the U.S.-Mexico border, initiatives to broaden oil and gas exploration, and significant increases in defense expenditures.
Additionally, there is a strategy in place to extend the tax cuts established in 2017 through a subsequent budget reconciliation measure to be considered later this year.
Senate Republican Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) expressed concerns regarding the pace at which House Republicans are currently operating, stating that they “right now” are “not able to move at the level we’d like them to move.”
“We have a bill ready to advance, and Sen. Graham will clarify details for the conference during tomorrow’s lunch,” Barrasso remarked.
Amidst these developments, House Republicans encountered delays earlier this week in bringing their own version of the legislation to a vote due to internal disagreements about the extent of the proposed spending cuts.
Barrasso indicated that while Senate Republicans would head to Florida for a meeting with President Trump on Friday night, they would assess his willingness for the Senate to act ahead of the House on the budget reconciliation effort that includes pivotal issues such as border security, energy, and defense.
He remarked that Graham would provide colleagues with an update on his progress regarding the budget reconciliation process, emphasizing the urgency surrounding border security, energy independence, and national defense issues.
However, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) asserted that the House remains committed to leading the charge on a comprehensive budget proposal that addresses border security, energy, defense, and tax policies. “The Senate will not take the lead. We’ll take the lead. We’re right on schedule,” he stated.
Johnson mentioned plans to convene with Republican House Budget Committee members later in the evening to outline a strategy moving forward, although he cautioned that it is still uncertain if there will be markup on the budget this week. “We’re engaged in an important discussion tonight with key individuals to determine the pathway ahead,” he noted, adding, “This is the deliberative process.”
Despite the forward momentum, a source familiar with the House schedule indicated that the budget resolution would face delays. “There will not be a budget resolution markup this week,” the source revealed, acknowledging the ambitious timeline set by the House leadership and their efforts to meet it.
Source
thehill.com