House Republicans dropped the blueprint for a $95 billion reconciliation package designed to ram through conservative priorities while Democrats are powerless to stop it.
The move comes after Senate Democrats weaponized the filibuster to block legislation like the SAVE America Act — forcing Republicans to use reconciliation, the budget tool that requires only a simple majority and sidesteps the 60-vote threshold.
This is the third major reconciliation bill of the Congress, dubbed “Reconciliation 3.0.”
The resolution carves up the spending: $60 billion to the House Armed Services Committee for defense, $13 billion to the Intelligence Committee for financing the war in Iran, $12 billion for farm subsidies and grants, and $10 billion for a grant program pushing states to adopt SAVE America Act voter ID provisions.
“If it’s a reasonably targeted amount on defense, and we’re dealing with these — you know, trying to force the Senate’s hand on SAVE America, then we’ll see if we can get it done.” — Rep. Chip Roy
The $95 billion won’t be offset by spending cuts — a sticking point for fiscal hawks.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), one of the House’s toughest budget watchdogs, admitted he’s “getting a little hung up” on the lack of offsets but acknowledged the emergency nature of the threats America faces.
“I’m not one that wants to swallow lack of offsets,” Roy said. “When you have a three-seat majority, you got to figure out how to move. So we’re working through that as we speak.”
Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) echoed the tension. “Adding to the deficit is clearly something I don’t want to do, but we have to look at what the consequence is if we don’t do it,” he said.
Speaker Mike Johnson has been working the phones and the back rooms to lock down votes, meeting with House Budget Committee Republicans and White House officials at Camp David on Monday.
Johnson said he’s been “building consensus one step at a time” — including negotiating farm aid down from $20 billion to $12 billion, according to Politico.
The reconciliation bill remains under negotiation this week. The House is expected to vote on the budget resolution next week.
