![U.S House of Representatives. / [Image by Speaker Paul Ryan via Wikimedia, Public] Domain]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2017/7/21/660x290/b_502x220x82/us-house-of-representatives-image-by-speaker-paul-ryan-via-wikimedia-public-domain_1457111.jpg "U.S House of Representatives. / [Image by Speaker Paul Ryan via Wikimedia, Public] Domain]")
When CNN published their report titled, "House Republican budget slashes billions in spending, paving path to tax cuts" they suggested that the House Republican budget resolution document would not have enough votes to pass the following day. Due to the disagreement among republicans, it was the view that the House would not be able to get those votes. More specifically, one of the main reasons for this was because under the rules of reconciliation, Republicans would only be able to get enough votes by a simple majority of 51 rather than the traditional 60.
Similarities between passing health care and budget
This was especially the case because much like health care, Democrats are united in rejecting such a budget proposal which would make getting those 60 votes more difficult. Recently, Senate Republicans have been losing their uphill battle to repeal and/or replace Obamacare because they haven't been able to get enough votes under the same rules and conditions of reconciliation. Another similarity between the spending and health care bills are with disagreement among the more conservative members of the Republican Freedom Caucus who want sweeping spending cuts as opposed to cuts suggested by moderate members of the party.
Spending not as drastic as Trump proposal?
The House Budget Committee, however, approved the resolution on July 19 after a 12-hour session. It got the support of 22 Republicans with 14 Democrats opposing it. And even though committee Chairwoman Diane Black said that under a Trump presidency that they as Republicans were now able to move forward with their budget, it was still not as sweeping as the President would have liked it.
In April and May the Trump administration submitted their budget proposals but were slammed for it because it attempts to cripple domestic programs and federal agencies across the board.
In fact, both budget proposals were initially rejected by Congress which resulted in lawmakers writing their own budget. Over the last week ranking member of the House Budget Committee, John Yarmuth (D-Ky.) said that both mandatory and discretionary cuts to spending would reduce non-defense discretionary investments to the lowest levels.
He compared the cuts to being the equivalent to the size of the American economy during the 60s.
Set backs for House Republicans
In fact, the vote was reportedly so overwhelmingly along party lines that all 28 amendments offered by Democrats were defeated by Republicans. According to one report by the Hill titled: "House committee advances budget resolution", many of those amendments were designed to embarrass Republicans or push to budget agendas that Republicans would not support anyway such as climate change. There are also reports that before Congress broke for August recess that Democrats intended to slow down any other legislative efforts that might help slow down Trump's agenda.
House Speaker Paul Ryan had to give members of his party a pep-talk in order to get them to pass the budget, saying that they needed to keep their promise to voters.
Thus far, Republicans in the House and the Senate have had issues passing major legislation and their budget resolution is no exception. It's been reported that rather than the House being able to pass a full omnibus -- or even "minibus" spending bill -- that they would try to pass stripped down versions after they return from recess. The only set back would come from the Senate, who might filibuster the efforts.
