The future of President Trump's domestic agenda overcame a significant hurdle on Tuesday, as House Republicans managed to resolve internal disagreements over spending to pass a framework for a sweeping multitrillion dollar plan. This ambitious plan aims to address key areas such as defense, energy, immigration, and tax policy.
Tuesday's vote was a pivotal step for House Republicans. The passage of this framework enables them to utilize a complex legislative tool known as reconciliation. This process allows Republicans to bypass a filibuster from Democrats in the Senate. However, to utilize reconciliation, it was essential to first agree on a budget blueprint.
"We got it done," Johnson told reporters following the vote. "This is the first important step in opening up the reconciliation process. We have a lot of hard work ahead of us, but we are going to deliver the America First agenda."
With a razor-thin majority, House Republicans required nearly unanimous support from their conference. The budget resolution ultimately passed with a 217 to 215 vote, with only one Republican dissenting.
Tuesday's vote signifies an initial step forward in what promises to be a complex journey to pass the party's policy priorities. The Republican-led Senate, eager to push forward, has already advanced its own budget reconciliation plan. Now, both chambers must pass the same bill to proceed.
At the start of the day, GOP leaders were still working to gather support. Johnson and his deputies endured weeks of arduous negotiations, striving to balance the competing demands within a divided GOP caucus.
While fiscal hawks demanded steep spending cuts, other members were concerned about the impact of these cuts on Medicaid, the government insurance program that provides health coverage for millions of low-income and disabled Americans.
The House plan proposes increased funding to secure the southern border, a boost in military spending, and raising the nation's debt limit by $4 trillion.
The plan also includes $4.5 trillion in tax cuts over the next decade. These cuts involve renewing the 2017 Trump tax cuts, which are set to expire at the end of the year, and other proposals championed by the president, such as no taxes on tips, overtime, or Social Security.
To advance the budget plan to this stage, Johnson conceded to demands from some conservative holdouts for $2 trillion in spending cuts. The budget framework leaves the specifics of these cuts to be determined later by individual committees in the House.
For instance, the House Energy and Commerce Committee is tasked with finding $880 billion in savings. However, given the committee's influence over programs like Medicare and Medicaid, more moderate Republicans are worried about potential cuts to the social safety net.
Democrats have voiced concerns about possible cuts to the popular Medicaid program, which serves low-income, elderly, and disabled Americans. "The House Republican budget resolution will set in motion the largest Medicaid cut in American history," stated House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., after the vote.
Before Tuesday's vote, several members indicated opposition, yet ultimately only one Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, voted against the resolution. On social media, Massie expressed concern, stating, "If the Republican budget passes, the deficit gets worse, not better." Elon Musk responded to Massie's post by saying, "That sounds bad."
Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, chair of the House Budget Committee, credited Johnson for the outcome. Although there were multiple holdouts before the vote, Arrington acknowledged that the speaker was instrumental in securing the votes needed.
