House budget resolution passes rule vote as holdouts threaten future on floor – Washington Examiner
The House Rules committee has approved a budget resolution proposing spending cuts between $1.5 trillion and $2 trillion, after a lengthy debate. Following the accomplished 9-4 vote, the resolution is set for a procedural vote on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. Though, meaningful opposition remains among Republican members, mainly centrists, who express concerns over proposed cuts to Medicaid and Medicare. Speaker Mike Johnson can only afford to lose one vote for the resolution to pass, making its future uncertain due to at least a dozen Republican holdouts. Some members, like Rep.Thomas Massie, argue that the proposed budget could worsen the deficit. The outcome of a late-night meeting among GOP leaders and moderates suggests a tenuous path forward as opinions continue to shift.
House budget resolution passes rule vote as holdouts threaten future on floor
The House Rules Committee voted to pass a budget resolution seeking between $1.5 trillion and $2 trillion in spending cuts on Monday, sending the legislation to the floor, where many Republican holdouts against the proposal remain.
In a 9-4 vote, the Rules Committee voted to move the resolution forward after over five hours of debate, allowing it to go for a scheduled procedural vote at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday followed by a final passage later that day at 6 p.m.
However, whether the resolution even makes it to the House floor remains to be seen, after several GOP members indicated they have reservations over potential cuts to Medicaid and other contentious areas.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), who has avidly pushed for a one-bill approach to reconciliation despite the Senate successfully adopting phase one of its two-bill plan, can currently only afford to lose one vote if all members are present.
Any missing members from the Democrats could widen that majority, but only narrowly. With at least a dozen Republican holdouts, mainly centrists, this could still place the budget resolution in jeopardy.
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) told reporters after a meeting in the speaker’s office earlier in the day that six to 10 members remain holdouts and both Reps. Tim Burchett (R-TN) and Victoria Spartz (R-IN) are “no” votes as of now.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) is all but guaranteed to be a no as well.
“If the Republican budget passes, the deficit gets worse, not better,” Massie posted on X on Monday evening.
Many of the holdouts have raised concerns over the Energy and Commerce Committee’s expected $880 billion in cuts — which likely cannot be done without cuts to Medicaid or Medicare.
House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-MI) told reporters that “as of now, there are no cuts to Medicaid.”
”All the budget resolution does is unlock the process to let it go to committees,” she said, reciting a common talking point being pushed by leadership.
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Malliotakis said earlier on Monday she was undecided and looking for “clarity.” However, leaving a late-night meeting with other centrists, Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), and Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Malliotakis told reporters she is leaning yes.
Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) is leaning no, arguing the resolution does not go far enough. Among the dozen or so holdouts ahead of the moderate late-night meeting were Reps. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), Tony Gonzalez (R-TX), and Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ).
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