Senate Republicans aren’t sold on their House counterparts’ dreams of passing yet another party-line bill this summer.
GOP senators are still trying to push through a narrowly targeted immigration enforcement bill — their second attempt at using the budget reconciliation process this Congress following last summer’s tax-cuts-focused megabill.
With that legislation still in flux, they aren’t showing much enthusiasm for the House GOP’s goal of passing a third reconciliation bill by late July — and several aren’t convinced a third bill happens at all.
“I wouldn’t bet my house on it, and if it were your house I were betting on, I’d say, ‘Maybe,’” said Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.). “I hope that they’re right.”
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), asked if the Senate was on the same timeline or if he was sure a third bill would happen, said, “No.”
The skepticism from some Republicans comes as key House Republicans, including Speaker Mike Johnson, told POLITICO this week they want to draw up another bill before the long August recess.
House Republicans are still discussing what could go in the bill, which could be a final catch-all before the midterms allowing them to potentially address affordability issues, alleged fraud in social service programs and Iran war funding, among other things.
But Senate Republican leaders aren’t buying yet, especially as the White House struggles to squash GOP skepticism over funding in the immigration enforcement bill related to President Donald Trump’s ballroom project.
“We’re still working on reconciliation 2.0,” Majority Leader John Thune said Wednesday when asked if the Senate was also working on a pre-recess timeline for a third bill.
Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso added that “what we’re wanting to do right now is get this second one done.”
