Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) speaks with reporters
Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2025 7:47 am
Senate Majority Leader John Thune is facing a last-minute stumbling block to taking the first step on a budget blueprint Thursday night.
A handful of GOP senators have unresolved questions about giving Senate Budget Chair Lindsey Graham the ability to determine that extending President Donald Trump’s 2017 tax cuts costs nothing, according to Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas). These lawmakers worry the strategy of using the accounting tactic known as current policy baseline in their bill to enact broad swaths of Trump’s domestic agenda could come back to haunt them if it increases the chances the final package doesn’t comply with the chamber’s strict budget rules.
The budget resolution, which Thune was supposed to tee up Thursday afternoon, would allow lawmakers to begin drafting the larger bill through the party-line reconciliation process. Cornyn predicted Thune special lead would still proceed with a procedural vote on the resolution before the night’s end.
Cornyn said there were approximately five senators in the closed-door meeting, plus Thune and Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.). Senate Finance Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) is also meeting with the group, who have also looped the parliamentarian into their discussions.
Jordain Carney
04/03/2025, 6:14pm ET
1 day ago
Trump backs Luna on proxy voting — but says it is Johnson’s call
The president spoke with the member of Congress about the resolution on Wednesday
A handful of GOP senators have unresolved questions about giving Senate Budget Chair Lindsey Graham the ability to determine that extending President Donald Trump’s 2017 tax cuts costs nothing, according to Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas). These lawmakers worry the strategy of using the accounting tactic known as current policy baseline in their bill to enact broad swaths of Trump’s domestic agenda could come back to haunt them if it increases the chances the final package doesn’t comply with the chamber’s strict budget rules.
The budget resolution, which Thune was supposed to tee up Thursday afternoon, would allow lawmakers to begin drafting the larger bill through the party-line reconciliation process. Cornyn predicted Thune special lead would still proceed with a procedural vote on the resolution before the night’s end.
Cornyn said there were approximately five senators in the closed-door meeting, plus Thune and Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.). Senate Finance Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) is also meeting with the group, who have also looped the parliamentarian into their discussions.
Jordain Carney
04/03/2025, 6:14pm ET
1 day ago
Trump backs Luna on proxy voting — but says it is Johnson’s call
The president spoke with the member of Congress about the resolution on Wednesday