House Speaker Mike Johnson previews budget battle under Trump's second term

Описание: (6 Jan 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Washington - 6 January 2025
1. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson walks and talks to reporters after certifying that Donald Trump won the 2024 election
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Mike Johnson, House Speaker:
"I talked to -- I talked to (Senate Majority Leader) John Thune this morning via text, and he and I are gonna visit about it. The Senate has a little different opinion and perspective on reconciliation and what the wisest strategy is than the House. And that's OK. That's part of this process, as you all know. We build consensus around these ideas, but we are going to get this mission accomplished. And so figuring out the most efficient and efficacious way to do that is what we're in the process of right now. So I wouldn't get too wound up about what the exact strategy is. It's the substance of the bills that matter."
REPORTER: "Can realistically actually do two bills. That's what (Senator) Thune wants. Can the House pass two bills with these margins?
SPEAKER JOHNSON: "We can do anything over here that we build consensus for, but I, there, there is some merit to a one bill strategy, and there are good arguments for the two bill. The two-bill strategy would allow us to put points on the board, so to speak, early in the year and, and handle some of the border measures statutorily, but there will be lots of executive order action on the border as well and a lot of attention paid to that and we will be passing border legislation here one way or the other. The question is whether we use reconciliation as the strategy to do that, but stay tuned. You're gonna be exciting -- It's gonna be an exciting time here. You're gonna be -- You're gonna see a lot of activity, and we're very much ready and prepared to get that work done."
3. Johnson ignores questions as he walks into the Speaker's office
STORYLINE:
House Speaker Mike Johnson is weighing his options for passing a budget through Congress during the beginning of President-elect Donald Trump's second term.

Congress narrowly avoided a government shutdown in December by passing a slimmed-down package that funds the government at current levels through March 14 and adds $100 billion in disaster aid and $10 billion in agricultural assistance to farmers.

Gone is Trump’s demand to lift the debt ceiling, which GOP leaders told lawmakers would be debated as part of their tax and border packages in the new year. Republicans made a so-called handshake agreement to raise the debt limit at that time while also cutting $2.5 trillion in spending over 10 years.

Republicans are relishing the moment as they take unified control of Washington and rally around President-elect Donald Trump after Congress certified his 2024 electoral win Monday.

Yet the elements that made for a turbulent House the past two years remain stubbornly in place, except that the stakes are far higher now as Republicans try to deliver on Trump’s agenda.

Speaker Johnson told reporters Monday there a "merits" to both a on-bill strategy and a two-bill strategy.

"The two-bill strategy would allow us to put points on the board, so to speak, early in the year and, and handle some of the border measures statutorily, but there will be lots of executive order action on the border as well and a lot of attention paid to that and we will be passing border legislation here one way or the other. The question is whether we use reconciliation as the strategy to do that," Johnson said.


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