Senate Republicans Move Ahead With Their Budget, Doubting the House Can Get Its Act Together

“Nobody wants to see the House fail,” one White House official told NOTUS. “But if they do, there has to be a backup plan.”

John Thune

Sen. John Thune attends a news conference in the U.S. Capitol. Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via AP

Nobody wants to be the fallback guy. Except the U.S. Senate.

Despite President Donald Trump publicly endorsing the House’s one-bill approach to reconciliation, GOP senators are charging ahead with their two-bill package. The effort has taken weeks of deliberations, and will take hours more of votes on the Senate floor as Democrats seek to amend the bill on Thursday night. Votes are expected to go into the early hours of Friday morning.

Still, Senate Republicans say they’re not dissuaded by Trump’s preference for Speaker Mike Johnson’s plan.