House Budget Committee advances Reconciliation 3.0 amid GOP divisions

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - The House Budget Committee advanced a $95 billion legislative package Thursday, known as “Reconciliation 3.0,” as Republicans move to use the special budget process for a third time to bypass the Senate filibuster. The bill faces unified Democratic opposition and resistance from some members of the GOP.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is working hard to garner support. “It’s our best shot at enacting our party’s top priority legislation, the SAVE America Act,” he said.

The bill would direct funding to the Pentagon amid the Iran War, provide farm aid, and advance portions of the SAVE America Act — President Donald Trump’s top legislative priority. He called on the public to pressure lawmakers to act during an address to the nation Thursday night.

“I ask you to pick up your phone tomorrow, call your representatives in the House and Senate, and demand that they pass the Save America Act without delay,” he said.

The package includes $10 billion to incentivize states to implement stricter voter ID laws — a scaled-back version of a provision that would have mandated photo identification nationwide. The bill does not include major spending cuts. Some Republicans are also raising eyebrows because the bill doesn’t tackle the high cost of living, a key voter concern in a tough midterms year.

Senate Democrats are pushing back on the use of reconciliation for a third consecutive time.

“I am opposed to in general appropriating through reconciliation,” Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) said. “It is a shortcut that only benefits the party in control. And quite honestly, it is not appropriate in this instance.”

The budget resolution is set to go to the House floor. Johnson has said he intends to pass the package before the August recess, which is set to begin July 23.