House Republicans introduced a $95 billion budget resolution on Wednesday aimed at boosting defense spending, supporting farmers, and tightening voter registration rules. The 47-page plan is intended to supplement Pentagon funding for the Iran war and advance former President Donald Trump’s priority of changing voter registration requirements, according to fortune.com.
The resolution, described as a sequel to last year’s $2 trillion tax and spending cut bill signed by Trump, was pushed by House Speaker Mike Johnson after his White House meeting with Trump this week. Johnson emphasized that the plan focuses on safeguarding elections and strengthening national defense, and it is designed to pass on a party-line vote by overriding Democratic objections. The Budget Committee was set to consider the outline on Thursday ahead of floor action.
The GOP’s approach narrows the scope of spending to address conservative concerns about increasing the deficit, as the resolution does not include offsets to pay for the additional $95 billion. Democrats have criticized the partisan process, especially regarding war funding, arguing against bypassing bipartisan negotiation. The resolution underscores the Republican strategy to highlight defense and election security ahead of the midterm elections, where control of Congress is contested.
The budget resolution is expected to move through the House Budget Committee on Thursday, marking a critical step toward final approval and implementation of the GOP’s legislative priorities for defense and voter registration ahead of the November midterms.