House Speaker Mike Johnson, at a House Republican retreat, revealed that President-elect Donald Trump supports passing a single reconciliation bill to address his priorities, including border security, energy, and extending his 2017 tax law. Reconciliation allows Congress to pass partisan policies with a simple majority vote. Johnson stated that Trump wants to pass “one big, beautiful bill” to address various issues in one vote. Some in Trump’s orbit preferred two separate bills, one for immigration and one for tax cuts. Senate Majority Leader John Thune endorsed a two-bill strategy, proposing to address some issues quickly and save others for later in the year. Most Republicans are concerned about attempting two budget bills in a year, as it could be challenging to unify the party and add to the deficit. Lawmakers worry that splitting the bills could increase the cost of extending Trump’s tax cuts, a red line for many in the GOP. Trump’s endorsement of a single reconciliation bill could simplify the process and save political capital. Republicans will have to carefully navigate the process to pass legislation using reconciliation with their slim majorities in the House and Senate.
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House Republicans Urged by Rep. Mike Johnson to Pass a Single Reconciliation Bill, Trump Requests
