Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R.S.D.) is developing a legislative roadmap for 2025, with plans to pass a huge bill within the first month of his new administration. .
Thune laid out his legislative priorities at the Republican conference on Tuesday, telling colleagues he intends to move quickly on budget reconciliation bills for border security, defense and energy within the first 30 days of the new Congress.
Reconciliation is a legislative measure used to speed the passage of legislation on issues such as taxes, the debt limit, and federal spending by bypassing the Senate's 60-vote threshold and lowering it to a simple majority of 51 votes. It is.
The senator told lawmakers his next task will be to pass legislation focused on taxes and other top priorities of President-elect Donald Trump's administration.
What is reconciliation, the tool Republicans want to use to “push the envelope” on federal policy?
Sen. John Thune has been elected as the next Senate Majority Leader in the upcoming Congress. (Eric Lee/Bloomberg)
Lawmakers in the House have already indicated they intend to pass a reconciliation bill that focuses on border security and energy.
“We're going to continue to push the envelope to include as many pro-growth strategies as we can, and one of those is regulatory reform,” said Rep. Jodi Arrington (R-Texas), House Budget Chair, on Fox News Digital. told. . “The other thing is border security and immigration reform.”
But the reconciliation plan was not welcomed by all congressional Republicans.
Rep. Jason Smith (R-Missouri), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, strongly criticized the proposal, calling the concept of reconciliation “reckless.”
Rep. Jason Smith, R-Missouri, leaves a meeting of the House Republican Conference at the Capitol on Wednesday, February 14, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc, via Getty Images)
“If they go through that process, I think it creates an opportunity for all Americans to increase their taxes,” Smith told Punchbowl News.
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During Tuesday's meeting, Thune also revealed plans to make some changes to workflow within the chamber.
The Republican senator said votes would not be held indefinitely to shorten voting hours and said lawmakers were expected to work longer work weeks in the first few months of the 119th Congress. I made preparations.
President-elect Donald Trump has reportedly called a Senate session. (Evan Vucci)
President Trump will reportedly be called to Tuesday's meeting to speak with senators to discuss his priorities in Congress, as he needs to work closely with Congress to advance his agenda. Ta.
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“He was excited about the win,” Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said of Trump's phone call, The Hill reported. “We have a mission and an opportunity to do the kinds of things we've been talking about in our campaign in terms of lowering prices, in terms of borders, in terms of getting America back on track.”
FOX News' Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
