A proposed $70 billion bill to fund immigration enforcement through the rest of President Donald Trump’s term stalled as Republicans disagreed over including White House ballroom security funding and creating a $1.8 billion fund for claims of government mistreatment. The delay threatens progress on a top GOP priority and prompts questions about whether Republicans can pass another large, party-line measure known as “Reconciliation 3.0.” Republicans are preparing for a high-stakes election-year push by meeting with committee and caucus leaders to identify proposals with strong support from rank-and-file members. The planned follow-up to last summer’s tax and spending cuts would increase Pentagon spending by hundreds of billions while offsetting costs with cuts elsewhere framed as addressing waste and fraud. The outcome will affect perceptions of GOP legislative effectiveness and internal unity.
"A roughly $70 billion bill to fund immigration enforcement through the remainder of President Donald Trump's term was supposed to be an easy lift for Republicans. But progress stalled over concerns about the inclusion of White House ballroom security funding in the package and the creation of a $1.8 billion fund to finance claims of government mistreatment. The stumble has not only delayed action on a top GOP priority but also is raising questions about other parts of the party's legislative agenda, including whether Republicans can enact another catchall, party-line bill referred to in Washington parlance as "Reconciliation 3.0.""
"Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, both of Louisiana, have been meeting with committee and caucus chairs to screen for proposals that have strong buy-in from the rank and file. They are aiming to follow up on last summer's big tax and spending cuts bill with a measure that would increase Pentagon spending by hundreds of billions of dollars and would include cuts elsewhere to help pay for it, which they are couching as tackling government waste and fraud."
"It's a high-stakes gambit in an election year. Success will reinforce the GOP's message of being able to deliver on legislative priorities. Failure will underscore some of the Republican fractures under Trump that could leave voters seeking an alternative. Here's a look at the coming debate as Republicans hope to pass a bill before leaving for their August recess."
"House Republicans sound confident Johnson navigated the House GOP's slim majority in passing Trump's tax and spending cuts bill last summer. The vote was 218-214. At the time, Republicans could afford to lose three votes from within their ranks. They lost just two. They'll have a thin margin of error again, but Johnson said he's even mor"
#immigration-enforcement #republican-legislative-strategy #reconciliation #pentagon-spending #election-year-politics
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