John Thune’s crafty maneuver just might sneak Trump’s megabill through the Senate

Senate Republicans are striving to consolidate the majority of President Donald Trump’s agenda into a single bill by modifying the House’s megabill to gain passage in the Senate. They plan to utilize a set of rules to avoid potential filibusters from Democrats.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., employed a clever tactic last week to potentially ensure more of the House’s policy projects make it to President Trump’s desk. Thune recognizes that the Senate’s rules generally align with the majority’s decisions.

GOP senators aimed to use the Congressional Review Act to revoke California’s electric vehicle mandate, but the Senate parliamentarian had indicated that the CRA only applies to federal agency rules, not state regulations. Thune managed to maneuver around this obstacle to block California’s EV standards through strategic votes.

The standard process for bills to pass the Senate involves overcoming a filibuster with a cloture motion requiring 60 affirmative votes. Once cloture is approved, a simple majority suffices for passing the bill. However, there are exceptions like the budget reconciliation process, allowing certain spending bills to be expedited.

The “Byrd rule” mandates that reconciliation bills must pertain to federal spending, prohibiting unrelated provisions. Before budget legislation is deliberated, it undergoes a “Byrd bath” to eliminate irrelevant content. Thune’s recent maneuver involved altering the CRA process to fast-track the California mandate issue.

Senate Democrats criticize the GOP for bypassing the parliamentarian’s advice and filibuster promises. Thune’s actions may set a precedent for future rule-bending, raising concerns about the integrity of passing Trump’s agenda. Challenges lie ahead in conforming to budget laws and seeking approval from the Senate parliamentarian.