On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a budget bill that would unlock the fiscal means for President Trump to advance his agenda in office.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and his leadership team spent most of the week whipping votes from a group of GOP holdouts. Some House Republicans were worried that the conference would not see the $1.5 trillion in spending cuts they are seeking.
Speaker Johnson reassured hardliners that the spending cuts would still happen, despite the Senate not being as aggressive with cutting spending as the chambers move towards budget reconciliation.
Upon passage of the bill, Speaker Johnson told reporters, “It was a good day in the House. I told you not to doubt us. The media always does. The Democrats always do. But we get the job done, and we’re really grateful to have had the big victory on the floor just now.”
The bill, passed with a 216 to 214 vote in the House, drew mixed reactions from members of the Pennsylvania delegation.
The delegation voted along party lines. Only two Republicans, Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Victoria Spartz of Indiana, voted against the bill.
Congressman Rob Bresnahan, a Republican, said in a statement, “The next step in the process is negotiating a final deal between the House and the Senate. As I have said countless times, like President Trump, I won’t support a budget that guts Medicaid, and I have made that clear to House Republican leadership. There will be plenty of fake news reports and fearmongering, claiming that today’s vote guts Medicaid, which is patently false.”
Congressman Guy Reschenthaler, also a Republican, described the budget bill passing as “a huge win for our nation and President Trump’s America First agenda.”
Republican Congressman Mike Kelly issued a statement, saying, “This resolution aims to deliver on the entirety of President Trump’s agenda and to fulfill our commitment to the American people.”
Democratic members of the Pennsylvania delegation voted against the bill and spoke out against what it aims to accomplish.
Democratic Representative Chrissy Houlahan said, “Today Republicans voted to advance their irresponsible budget. New vote, same old playbook: slash Medicaid, increase costs, and decimate programs for families, vets and older Americans.”
“President Trump and Republicans in Congress are already starting trade wars and driving up costs for people. Now, their budget would pillage our government and target peoples’ healthcare—all to gift $7 billion in tax giveaways to huge corporations and billionaires,” Congressman Chris Deluzio said, reacting to the bill’s passage.
With the critical budget framework approved, lawmakers will begin drafting final legislation that would only need a 51-vote majority to pass in the Senate.
