Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., is laying out a legislative roadmap to 2025 with plans to pass a colossal bill within the first month of the new administration.
Thune revealed his legislative priorities during a Republican meeting Tuesday, telling colleagues that he intends to quickly advance a border security, defense and energy budget reconciliation bill within the first 30 days of the new Congress.
Reconciliation is a legislative maneuver used to fast-track bills on issues such as taxes, the debt limit and federal spending, bypassing the Senate’s 60-vote threshold for passage, instead reducing it to a simple majority of 51 votes.
The senator told lawmakers his next task would be legislation focused on taxes and other top priorities of President-elect Donald Trump’s administration.
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Senator John Thune was elected to serve as Senate Majority Leader in the next Congress. (Eric Lee/Bloomberg)
House lawmakers have already expressed their intention to also pass a reconciliation bill focused on border security and energy.
“We’re going to push the outer limits to include as much pro-growth strategy as we can. One of them would be regulatory reform,” Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, chairman of the House Budget Committee, told Fox News Digital. Representatives. . “Another will be border security and immigration reform.”
However, the reconciliation plans were not welcomed by all Republicans in Congress.
Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, sharply criticized the proposal, calling the concept of reconciliation “reckless.”
Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., leaves a House Republican Conference meeting at the Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
“If they do that process, I think they’re creating an opportunity to raise taxes for all Americans,” Smith told Punchbowl News.
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During Tuesday’s meeting, Thune also revealed his plans to make some changes to the workflow on the camera.
The Republican senator said votes would no longer be held indefinitely to shorten voting time and prepared lawmakers to expect longer work weeks during the first months of the 119th Congress.
President-elect Donald Trump was reportedly summoned to the Senate meeting. (Evan Vucci)
Trump reportedly called Tuesday’s meeting to speak with senators as they discussed legislative priorities, as he will need to work closely with the chamber to advance his own agenda.
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“He was thrilled with his victory,” Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., said of Trump’s call, The Hill reported. “We have a mandate and an opportunity to do the kinds of things that we campaigned for in terms of lowering prices, in terms of the border, in terms of getting America back on track.”
Fox News’ Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
