House Republicans' mammoth budget resolution has cleared its last hurdle before heading for a chamber-wide vote. The legislation passed the House Rules Committee on a party-line vote, combining several bills expected to receive a full House vote this week.
House GOP leaders aim to secure passage on Tuesday evening, but concerns about spending cut levels may pose challenges. Speaker Mike Johnson can only afford to lose one Republican vote to pass the bill without Democratic support.
Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., expressed opposition to the current text, while other fiscal hawks remain undecided. Reps. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., and Thomas Massie, R-Ky., have signaled their intent to oppose the resolution.
Some Republicans are apprehensive about potential cuts to Medicaid and federal benefit programs. Johnson held discussions with dissenting members on Monday night to address their concerns.
The bill aims to boost spending on border security, the judiciary, and defense by approximately $300 billion, while seeking $1.5 trillion to $2 trillion in spending cuts elsewhere. It also allocates $4.5 trillion to extend President Trump's 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provisions.
An amendment negotiated by House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, and conservatives mandates $2 trillion in cuts, or risk reduction in Trump's tax cuts extension.
House Ways & Means Committee Republicans, like Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., have expressed concerns about the feasibility of these cuts without affecting beneficiaries.
House lawmakers are striving to pass a range of Trump policies through the budget reconciliation process, which allows for passage with a simple majority in both houses of Congress.
The Senate has advanced a narrower version of the plan, serving as a backup if the House fails to pass its proposal promptly.
Once the bill passes the House, committees will work on detailed policy priorities to finalize the bill for another House passage.
Speaker Johnson aims for this process to conclude in April.
