WASHINGTON (Gray DC) – Some conservative congressional Republicans are now pushing for the new Congress to use reconciliation to enact President-elect Donald Trump’s agenda enacted next year.
Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) and Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) held a press conference on Wednesday to explain why they believe the two step process gives Congress a good shot at getting Trump’s border security and tax proposals passed in the new year.
“We came together today because we want to get something accomplished,” said Sen. Scott.
Scott, Harris and other conservatives sent a letter to Senate majority leader-elect John Thune (R-SD) and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) on Wednesday, which calls for the new Congress to use reconciliation to pass border security legislation first because it is quicker than the typical committee process.
They stressed that enacting the legislation using their proposed strategy is important to help President-elect Trump fulfill his promises.
“The president won a mandate on November 5th. And the mandate, just as the senator said, was to deliver on the economy and deliver on the border,” said Rep. Harris.
The first reconciliation bill would provide four years of funding to pay for several border security measures including building and strengthening the southwestern border wall and to hire thousands of border officers and agents.
After passing the border security legislation, the group of Republicans said lawmakers should turn their focus to a second reconciliation bill that will extend the Trump tax cuts, before they expire at the end of 2025.
“Avoiding a massive tax increase is what’s our top priority really, once we get past us securing the border,” said Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI).
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