House releases long-awaited budget blueprint to pass Trump agenda – Washington Examiner
The House Budget Committee has released a much-anticipated budget blueprint aimed at advancing President Donald Trump’s agenda through a single bill. budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington introduced a plan that instructs the Ways adn Means Committee to formulate $4.5 trillion in tax cuts, which is slightly lower than what’s needed to renew Trump’s 2017 tax cuts. The blueprint also includes a $4 trillion increase in the debt ceiling and proposes at least $1.5 trillion in mandatory spending cuts.
The resolution, which experienced delays, is poised for a committee vote on Thursday, with aspirations for the House to pass it by Memorial Day. This comes amidst pressure on Arrington to demonstrate progress on the budget.In contrast, Sen. Lindsey graham is working on a seperate Senate resolution that does not incorporate tax reforms, highlighting a strategic divide between the House and Senate.
The budget framework provides a delicate starting point for House Republicans, who have a slim majority. If the resolution passes, various committees will be required to navigate challenging trade-offs to adhere to its guidelines. There are anticipated discussions regarding modifications to Medicaid and other reforms that may prove politically contentious. Meanwhile, Trump continues to urge Congress to fulfill his campaign pledges related to taxes and benefits.
House releases long-awaited budget blueprint to pass Trump agenda
The House Budget Committee released a long-awaited budget framework on Wednesday, marking the first step toward passing President Donald Trump’s agenda in a single bill.
Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-TX) unveiled a blueprint that instructs the Ways and Means Committee to craft $4.5 trillion in tax cuts, slightly less than the amount it would take to renew Trump’s 2017 tax cuts.
It also includes a $4 trillion debt ceiling increase alongside at least $1.5 trillion in mandatory spending cuts, two provisions meant to win over the Freedom Caucus.
The resolution, delayed by more than a week, comes as Arrington faces mounting pressure to show progress in budget talks. His committee will vote on the resolution on Thursday, allowing House committees to get to work on a bill Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) wants signed into law by Memorial Day.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, is marking up a separate resolution this week that excludes tax reform, defying the wishes of Johnson and pitting the two chambers against each other on strategy.
Instead, the Senate is crafting a $340 billion defense and border bill that Graham hopes to pass before March 14, the next government funding deadline.
Senior White House officials have emphasized the need to “act now” on the border as Trump pursues an immigration crackdown, but Johnson still enjoys support from the president on a single-bill approach.
The budget framework represents a fragile starting point for House Republicans, who control the chamber by only a two-seat margin.
If the resolution passes the Budget Committee on Thursday, committees will have to weigh a series of difficult trade-offs to stick within its instructions.
Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO), the Ways and Means Committee chairman, must negotiate a compromise on raising the $10,000 cap on deductions for state and local taxes to win over blue-state Republicans. Raising the cap would add to deficits and primarily benefit high-income earners.
Meanwhile, Trump has asked Congress to codify many of the tax promises he made on the campaign trail, including exemptions for tips and overtime pay.
The offsets directed by the budget resolution also likely mean changes to Medicaid, such as work requirements, that could be politically difficult to swallow for more centrist members.
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