The measure cleared the lower chamber in a 216-214 vote, with just two Republicans — Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) — opposing it after additional GOP skeptics were assured the final bill would have enough spending cuts for their liking.
“We want to make sure we’re delivering on our shared goals in the budget resolution process,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told reporters Thursday morning ahead of the vote. “Our two chambers are directly aligned also on a very important principle: And that is the principle of fiscal responsibility.”
“We’re going to protect the essential programs for everybody that’s eligible to receive those.”
Both the House and Senate needed to adopt the budget resolution to unlock the reconciliation process, which will enable Republicans in the upper chamber to bypass a potential Democratic filibuster that would otherwise need 60 votes to overcome.
With Republicans holding 53 Senate seats, reconciliation is critical to get the president’s promised agenda of tax cuts, defense and border security spending, and stepped up energy exploration through Congress.
Senate Republicans had adopted the compromise budget resolution last week that included two sets of instructions: One, modeled after a version that cleared the House in February that called for at least $1.5 trillion in cuts and a second with a relatively paltry $4 billion of cuts.
Trump and GOP leadership had urged House Republicans to hold their breath and green light the budget resolution so that they could get the ball rolling on drafting the bill and hash out lingering differences later.
Initially, fiscal hawks in the House were apprehensive, forcing Johnson to delay a planned Wednesday afternoon vote on the measure.
Ultimately hardliners came around after GOP leaders assured them that they would get the deper spending cuts they want, despite fears that the outcome would gut Medicaid.
“Great News! “The Big, Beautiful Bill” is coming along really well. Republicans are working together nicely. Biggest Tax Cuts in USA History!!! Getting close,” Trump said on Truth Social Thursday morning ahead of the vote.
There are other big differences in the dual sets of instructions.
The Senate version set the stage for making the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent and creating enough space to fully realize Trump’s campaign pledge of no tax on tips, Social Security, or overtime pay — as well as increasing the state and local tax deduction (SALT) — at a total estimated cost of $5.3 trillion.
But the House version only calls for a deficit increase of $4.5 trillion for tax cuts, meaning that Trump’s full agenda may not be realized.
The Senate version set the stage for making the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent and creating enough space to fully realize Trump’s campaign pledge of no tax on tips, Social Security, or overtime pay — as well as increasing the state and local tax deduction (SALT) — at a total estimated cost of $5.3 trillion.
The Senate instructions also provide $350 billion in new funding for border security (aides have told The Post lawmakers only plan to use $175 billion of that).
The House instructions only call for $200 billion.
The upper chamber’s version also increased defense spending by $150 billion, while the House jacked it up by only $100 billion.
On the debt ceiling, which the US is projected to bump up against later this year, the Senate instructions call for a $5 trillion increase in America’s credit limit.
The House instructions only call for a $4 trillion hike.
With Congress set to break later Thursday for a two-week Passover and Easter recess, GOP leaders are still hoping to get a final bill to Trump’s desk by Memorial Day.