House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) stated Thursday that Senate Republicans must find a path to pass a $95 billion budget resolution approved by the House on Wednesday. The resolution is a prerequisite for using the reconciliation process, which allows certain legislation to pass the Senate with a simple majority rather than the 60 votes typically required to overcome a filibuster. The House-passed plan includes funding for military operations related to Iran, farm assistance, and the SAVE America Act, an election oversight bill.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) indicated that the budget resolution currently lacks the 50 votes necessary for passage in the Senate. Thune noted that with the absence of Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) due to health reasons, Republicans can afford only two defections. Thune stated that his primary focus remains on reaching a deal to fund the government before the September 30 deadline to avoid a shutdown.
Differences in policy priorities remain between the two chambers. Several Senate Republicans have characterized the $67 billion for defense and $12 billion for farm aid in the House plan as insufficient. Additionally, some members expressed concern that moving the package ahead of the midterm elections could force vulnerable incumbents to take difficult votes on sensitive issues. Scalise stated that he expects President Donald Trump to encourage Senate Republicans to adopt the measure during their upcoming summer recess.