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Republicans want a third major bill. Can they get it?
After weeks of intense debate, Republicans finally got their immigration funding bill through Congress and to President Donald Trump’s desk — their second major budget bill passed through special rules in the Senate.
House Republicans want to try their luck one more time before the midterm elections when they are at risk of losing their majority, which would also mean losing the opportunity to pass these kinds of bills. But not everyone is on board just yet.
Top Republicans in the House have been hinting for weeks at a third reconciliation bill, although lawmakers haven’t settled on exactly what the focus should be or what policies should be included.
Trump appeared to set the tone for the package in a Truth Social post on Wednesday night, demanding Republicans approve a $350 billion budget bill for the Department of Defense that also includes portions of Sen. Mike Lee’s SAVE America Act. (Note: Lee has already said he does not believe his bill is not eligible for budget reconciliation, which allows senators to skirt around filibuster rules requiring 60 votes for most legislation.)
“I am hereby calling on Republicans in Congress to IMMEDIATELY advance and pass the forthcoming $350 Billion Reconciliation Bill (Recon 3.0) — which, at the request of our Great Department of War — will include THE SAVE AMERICA ACT as well,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
“No games, no delays, and no weak compromises!” he said. “Do this ASAP.”
Now, that could be easier said than done. House Republicans are ready to get a jump start on this — but their colleagues in the Senate don’t seem to think it’s possible.
Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky both suggested this week that a third reconciliation bill is not in Republicans’ future.
“I would just suggest that it is taking a terrible risk and creates instability when you’re counting on a third reconciliation bill for the bulk of the money rather than doing base funding through the defense appropriations bill,” Collins, the top Republican appropriator in the Senate, said during a hearing this week.
But not all hope is lost yet.
Utah Rep. Blake Moore, who sits on the House Budget Committee, said it is still possible — but it’ll depend entirely on Republicans coming to an agreement on what the package should focus on.
“There will be mixed feelings until the day we pass this, and that’s just going to be part of the process,” he told me in an interview this week.
Moore acknowledged that the last two reconciliation bills — the massive tax package last summer and the immigration funding bill this month — were more pressing because of deadlines that were attached to it. Without a due date on this bill, Moore said it could get pushed to the back burner.
“There is no natural ‘This has to be done by a certain date,’ and that will be the factor to watch,” Moore said. “There’s nothing that’s requiring us to necessarily get it done by a certain date, and that’s why it’ll be a tough legislative accomplishment, but all the better. So, hopefully we get it done.”
Stories Driving the Week
- Not-so-great American Fair: Six states have RSVP’d no to the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., one of the biggest celebrations of the summer to commemorate the nation’s 250th birthday. At least three more remain undecided. Many of those not going have cited financial reasons.
- What’s in a name? The Defense Department could officially be rebranded as the Department of War thanks to a measure tucked into a must-pass spending bill making its way through Congress.
- Make way for Utah: Utah Rep. Blake Moore will host the annual summer meeting for the National Republican Congressional Committee — the main campaign arm of House Republicans — in the Beehive State this weekend, I scooped this week.
Inside Republicans’ sixth-straight victory in annual Congressional Baseball Game
For all the sports fans out there, did you happen to catch the annual Congressional Baseball Game for charity? If not, I’ve got the highlights for you.
If you aren’t familiar with the game, it occurs every summer at Nationals Park where the Washington Nationals play their home games. (Although this game does occasionally sell more tickets than those, but more on that later.)
Lawmakers participate in the game in a classic Republicans versus Democrats showdown — and in recent years, Republicans have been dominating the baseball diamond. That proved to be true on Wednesday night when Republicans defeated Democrats 11-2, their sixth-straight victory.
The game is a charity fundraiser, with ticket proceeds going to Congressional Sports for Charity, a foundation that serves vulnerable children and families in the Washington, D.C., area as well as scholarships for local youth. Those charities include groups such as the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington and the Washington Nationals Philanthropies.
Although the game is a fun opportunity for lawmakers to blow off some steam, there are some members who take it quite seriously. I mean, did you see Sen. Eric Schmitt’s diving catch in the bottom of the third inning?
As someone with season tickets to the Washington Nationals, that was one of the best catches I’ve seen so far this season.
I caught up with Utah Rep. Blake Moore ahead of the game to talk about what it’s like to play on a winning team, as the three-term congressman has been playing ever since he was elected.
When Moore came onto the scene, Democrats were on a three-year winning streak. But after the 2020 midterms, Republicans had a new roster of young lawmakers ready to turn the tide.
“I felt like I was helping (the GOP) trend younger in those days, we were probably a little — if you looked at the average — on the older side, and Republicans hadn’t won for the better part of a decade before 2021,” Moore told me in an interview. “Democrats lost their star pitcher, and then we have dominated the last five years.”
Moore told me there’s not really that sophisticated of a process to join the team — essentially “if you can still run in our old age, then you’re gonna be on the team.” But the practice regimen was far more intense than I imagined.
“We practice way too much. I have a bitter reputation for being a little bit on the Allen Iverson side,” Moore said, referring to the former Philadelphia 76ers shooting guard who has a famous rant about reporters being more focused on the practice than the actual games.
“Practice at 5:45 in the morning, three days a week, when we’re in session — it’s a little much, four or five months before the one-game season,” Moore said with a laugh. “So I don’t make it to most of it, but enough to keep my legs fresh, and hit the ball as well.”
All in all, the game raised more than $3.2 million — squashing last year’s record sum of $2.8 million. And the park was packed in a way you’d only really see at a really good Nationals game.
“We will have more fans at this game than the Nationals do at a regular season game,” Moore said.
A minor flex.
Quick Hits
From the Hill: Why this Utah Republican voted against extending key government surveillance tool. … How Utah lawmakers worked with Pentagon to rethink policy omitting Latter-day Saints as Christians. … House passes Utah Republican’s bill to crack down on ‘ghost students’ stealing financial aid.
From the White House: Melania Trump launches new initiative to give foster kids ‘independence,’ ‘opportunity.’ … FDA approves sunscreen ingredient used in Europe for years. … Trump issues pardon to former Republican congressman convicted of insider trading.
From the courts: New Utah coalition threatens lawsuit over planned ICE detention center. … Historic agreement gives Utah a hand in managing these federal lands. … Government report claims Minnesota governor was aware of fraud.
