Don't Mess With Taxes

U.S. Capitol, Wikipedia Commons photo

The Republican-led Congress is struggling to find a way to enact Donald J. Trump’s agenda.

Even Trump seems to be waffling. After originally saying he supported the House’s plan for "one big, beautiful bill," Trump said during a radio interview Friday the GOP’s tax, border security, and energy legislative efforts may need to be broken up into smaller bills.

So, where do we go from here? That’s what GOP Congressional leaders wany to know.

Senates acts first: In the meantime, the Senate last week went with its two-part approach, and passed a $340 billion budget blueprint that would pay for immigration enforcement, energy production, and the military.

It cleared the upper chamber in the early morning of Feb. 20 all-night “vote-a-rama,” during which senators cast votes on 33 amendments over the course of a 10-hour span. The budget finally was approved by 52-48, with Kentucky’s junior GOP Sen. Rand Paul joining all 47 Democrats in voting against the budget resolution.

The House plans to consider its own budget resolution next week. It was approved by that chamber’s Budget Committee by a 21-16 party line vote earlier this month. The House blueprint calls for $4.5 trillion in tax cuts, along with spending cuts of $2 trillion. It includes money for the border, defense, and energy, as well as a $4 trillion debt limit hike.

All this fiscal maneuvering means this weekend’s Saturday Shout Outs are to articles looking at what’s on the table right now. Note, of course, that some, most, or all of it could change depending on infighting amount Republican lawmakers and Trump’s whims.

Here goes.

In Congress, what’s the difference between a budget resolution, reconciliation and spending bills? This overview by Manu Raju for CNN is a good place to start.

The House Wants to Pass Trump’s Agenda in One Big Bill. Here’s What’s in It. That’s the latest from the New York Times’ The Upshot column, written by Margot Sanger-Katz and Alicia Parlapiano.

Senate adopts $340 billion budget blueprint for Trump's agenda after marathon 'vote-a-rama' write Sahil Kapur, Scott Wong, Frank Thorp V, and Kate Santaliz for NBC News.

Senate adopts budget resolution after marathon vote-a-rama. Now what? asks Barbara Sprunt, with an assist from Deirdre Walsh, in an NPR report.

Trump floats multi-bill strategy as Hill Republicans struggle on budget says Meredith Lee Hill in her report for Politico’s Inside Congress Live feature.

House GOP panel passes budget blueprint with $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and steep spending reductions write Sahil Kapur, Melanie Zanona, and Kyle Stewart for NBC News.

Under House Budget Plan, Debt Limit Would Likely Be Reached by Fall 2026 Despite Increase says Richard Kogan in a piece for the Center of Budget and Policy Priorities.

Now I’m off to spend part of this Saturday balancing my personal checking account, thankful that it’s a much less momentous and time-consuming task!

Old musical memories: And for those who got the headline counting reference (and actually more so for those who didn’t), here are a couple of Larwence Welk reminders, one real and one parody.

First, the polka master himself —

And in a SNL skit —

You also might find these items of interest:

• GOP looking at 200+ spending cuts and tax changes
• Tax prognostications at the start of Trump's second term
• Despite Trump and Musk dooming the original short-term federal funding bill, Congress averts government shutdown

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