The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought met with House Republicans on Tuesday to discuss a potential budget bill that would include funding for various initiatives, including aid for U.S. farmers and election integrity measures.
The proposed $95 billion budget bill has received the support of President Donald Trump, but some fiscal hawks are concerned about the lack of budget cuts to offset the new federal spending. However, Vought assured House Republicans that spending cuts could be sought via another budget bill to be completed after the current legislation.
The measure in question, the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, has been stalled in the Senate, where a filibuster is needed to advance to a final vote. A new plan would pass the bill via the budget reconciliation process, which would lower the Senate's threshold for advancement to just a simple majority.
The budget reconciliation process involves passing a framework that directs relevant committees to craft details on allocated budgets, which are then put back into a single sweeping bill that must pass the House and Senate before reaching the President's desk. Some fiscal hawks have expressed concerns about the increase in federal spending in the current legislation.
Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, said he would support the legislation as long as it did not water down the SAVE America Act, which Vought indicated it would not. Other fiscal hawks, such as Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., have expressed doubts about the bill's ability to maintain its language through the Senate.
Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, suggested that he was inclined to vote for the budget framework, but remained undecided. The House GOP has a slim margin, and some Republicans are unsure if they can complete a fourth reconciliation bill before the end of this year.
The SAVE America Act aims to require proof of citizenship in the voter registration process and implement federal voter ID standards. While some Republicans are divided on the bill, it appears to have the support of President Trump.
Rep. Lloyd Smucker, R-Pa., expressed doubts about the feasibility of a fourth reconciliation bill, stating, "I don’t know about 4.0," but added that he would like to see more spending cuts. The outcome of the proposed budget bill remains uncertain as fiscal hawks continue to express concerns about the increase in federal spending.
