On this episode: The budget reconciliation process occurs if Congress passes a budget resolution for the fiscal year that gives reconciliation instructions. It’s used to override the filibuster and expedite the approval of a package of legislation in Congress that changes spending, revenues, or the debt limit — making it an ideal tool for the Trump administration to advance their agenda. These bills require a simple majority (51 votes) instead of the three-fifths majority (60 votes) usually needed in the Senate to bring bills to a vote and approve them.
Here’s a breakdown of how it works, where it originated, and how it’s been used in recent years in packages like 2018’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act or 2022’s Inflation Reduction Act.
- Visit our portal for an in-depth look at the process: https://ballotpedia.org/Budget_reconciliation_in_U.S._Congres
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*On The Ballot is a conversational podcast featuring interviews with guests across the political spectrum. The views and opinions expressed by them are solely their own and are not representative of the views of the host or Ballotpedia as a whole.