Sen. Mike Lee of Utah is convening a training session for Republican Congressional staffers aimed at helping move key parts of President-elect Donald Trump's agenda through Congress next year. The purpose of this course is to help students master the important procedural tools known as budget reconciliation.
Republicans are expected to use budget reconciliation to pass many of President Trump's tax and economic policies, as they are not subject to the filibuster or the 60-vote threshold. This means Republicans can move the bill with just a Senate majority.
On November 18, Mr. Lee hosted the first of several trainings with the Economic Policy Innovation Center (EPIC), including EPIC Director of Budget Policy Matthew Dickerson and Executive Vice President Brittany Madoni. Speakers included Paul Winfrey, president and CEO of the company.
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Sen. Mike Lee (left) and the Republican Steering Committee are conducting training for Republican officials ahead of the settlement. (Reuters)
A Republican Senate aide told Fox News Digital that training for staffers is intended to familiarize them with the budget reconciliation process, which can be complicated.
For a provision to be included in the reconciliation, it must meet the Senate rules governing that process. To occur through adjustment, the policy must be budgetary in nature, usually involving spending, debt limits, etc.
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Sen. Mike Lee and the Republican Steering Committee are holding training sessions for Republican staffers ahead of budget reconciliation to help pass President-elect Donald Trump's policies quickly. (Getty Images)
Republicans have criticized Democrats in the past for stretching the terms of reconciliation to pass policies without 60 votes. But Republicans have also signaled that now that they have control of Congress, they may look for ways to include other conservative policies in the process.
Republicans are on track to win a 53-seat majority in the Senate in 2025 and 2026. Republicans could pass some policies through the reconciliation process. It is an extension of a portion of President Trump's signature Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that was set to expire in 2017.
However, if Republicans are unable to incorporate other policy priorities into budget reconciliation because they do not meet the requirements for budget reconciliation, they will need to try to enlist some Democrats to break the filibuster on the regular bill.
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Senator Mike Lee will chair the steering committee. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)
The first training included 116 Republican staffers representing more than 70 offices on Capitol Hill, according to the Senate Republican Steering Committee. We plan to hold more events jointly sponsored by various groups in the future.
The aide explained that Lee and the committee want to make sure the staff is ready to work on reconciliation and pass President Trump's policies as soon as possible.
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This effort by Lee and the committee is also to ensure that the resulting budget reconciliation process is representative of a wide range of congressional Republicans, not just leadership. Giving staff the knowledge and understanding they need to consider and recognize the priorities of the entire Republican Party.
