House Republicans Solve One Budget Reconciliation Problem — And Create Another

An amendment giving Republicans latitude on tax cuts and mandatory spending reductions got the budget out of committee. But the amendment will directly tie lowering taxes to politically unpopular Medicaid cuts.

Jodey Arrington

Rep. Jodey Arrington speaks during a press conference at the Capitol. Francis Chung/POLITICO via AP

House Republicans cleared the first hurdle of the reconciliation race on Thursday by advancing a budget resolution out of committee. Now comes the hard part.

After weeks of public sparring and private negotiations, the House Budget Committee voted 21-16 along party lines late Thursday night to advance the budget to the House floor.

But even if the Freedom Caucus is signaling its support for the reconciliation blueprint — which sets up $4.5 trillion in tax cuts, a minimum of $1.5 trillion in spending cuts and a $4 trillion increase in the debt ceiling — there’s no guarantee this process will end with success.