A two-step budget reconciliation process has garnered support from House and Senate conservatives to implement President-elect Trump’s agenda, focusing initially on border security and deferring tax legislation. In a letter dated Wednesday, the lawmakers expressed that Republicans have a responsibility to help the President deliver on his promises to the American people following his decisive victory.
This letter was directed to incoming Senate Republican Leader John Thune of South Dakota and House Speaker Mike Johnson from Louisiana. It emphasized the importance of securing borders and restoring integrity to the nation’s immigration system, particularly after what the authors characterized as four years of President Biden’s open border policies. They stressed the necessity of prioritizing the swift passage of a reconciliation bill centered on border security.
GOP lawmakers warn of looming tax hikes without swift legislative action
Among the signatories were several prominent Republican senators, including Rick Scott from Florida, Ron Johnson from Wisconsin, Mike Lee from Utah, Marsha Blackburn from Tennessee, Ted Budd from North Carolina, and Lindsey Graham from South Carolina.
A group of House members also endorsed the letter, with famous names like Andy Harris from Maryland, Chip Roy from Texas, Lauren Boebert from Colorado, Josh Brecheen from Oklahoma, and many others.
The GOP has been divided over the legislative order, with some members advocating for tax reform to take precedence due to the problems involved and the looming expiration of the Trump tax cuts at the end of next year. However, Thune has expressed support for prioritizing a border and energy bill, a stance echoed by Stephen Miller, a senior adviser to Trump.
The conservative lawmakers highlighted that the narrow margins of control in both congressional chambers next year make success uncertain, leading them to believe that a two-step reconciliation process offers the best opportunity for passing crucial border security legislation.
Utilizing special budget reconciliation rules allows the majority party in both the House and Senate to advance legislation with a simple majority vote in the Senate, bypassing the typical requirement of 60 votes for contentious matters.
In their correspondence, they proposed that the first reconciliation bill should allocate four years of funding for specific border security measures, restrict non-citizens from accessing taxpayer-funded welfare benefits, and impose financial penalties to encourage self-deportation of undocumented immigrants.
The second reconciliation bill, according to the lawmakers, should focus on preventing a substantial tax increase set to take effect on January 1, 2026, which they argue would negate the economic benefits resulting from the Trump Tax Cuts. They emphasized the need for this second bill to also address deficit reduction by implementing necessary spending reforms and cuts.
In addition, the lawmakers suggested repealing green tax credits from Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act and cutting an estimated $2.5 trillion as identified by the Department of Government Efficiency to restore the nation’s fiscal health. The Hill has contacted Thune’s and Johnson’s offices for comments regarding this issue.
In response, Alex Floyd, a spokesperson for the Democratic National Committee, criticized the Republican agenda, asserting that Trump’s allies in Congress are attempting to reverse popular legislation aimed at lowering costs and enhancing energy independence, all to benefit major oil and gas companies. Floyd reaffirmed the Democratic commitment to advocate for working Americans and oppose any GOP efforts that would unfairly burden families.
