Budget chair says reconciliation will be used if bipartisan talks falter
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Summary
Jody Arrington told Bloomberg Republicans can use budget reconciliation — which requires only a simple Senate majority — to pursue health-care and budget priorities if bipartisan cooperation is not possible, and he said he believes the House can write a budget in January.
Jody Arrington, chairman of the House Budget Committee, told Bloomberg TV that Republicans plan to use budget reconciliation to advance their legislative priorities if Democrats do not cooperate.
Asked whether the House has time to write and pass a budget and whether a government shutdown is a risk, Arrington said Republicans can use reconciliation, which allows passage in the Senate with a simple majority. "We do," he said when asked if they have the time to write a budget. "Let's do it to make health care affordable ..." Arrington argued reconciliation is the tool to act without needing Democratic votes.
He said he would prefer bipartisan work but indicated he would not apologize for using reconciliation to implement Republican priorities. He referenced the chamber’s prior use of the mechanism and a recently passed Republican bill as precedent for the approach.
The interview did not include any formal schedule for votes or specific legislative text to be filed via reconciliation. Arrington’s remarks indicate intent to pursue unilateral budget tools if bipartisan compromise is not forthcoming.
Next steps: According to Arrington, Republicans will proceed with planning for budget and health-care legislation and may use reconciliation to secure enactment in the Senate.