Since last week’s changes to the reconciliation package, Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough has been running the long-anticipated “Byrd bath” on the Senate version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). Her early rulings have already forced Republicans to rewrite or strike parts of the 1,000-plus-page reconciliation package as leaders race to meet their self-imposed goal of voting before the July 4 recess.
So far, this includes more than two dozen policy riders that she deemed extraneous under the Byrd Rule, that dictates what can and can’t be included in a reconciliation package. Those casualties include: a “pay-to-play” permitting shortcut for infrastructure developers; a repeal of EPA tailpipe-emission rules; and the REINS Act which would give Congress additional oversight on federal regulations.
In addition to the hurdles from the Senate Parliamentarian, Republicans must grapple with how to handle the SALT-cap and changes to Medicaid. These provisions have several Republicans in the House and Senate threatening to vote no on final passage.
For additional information, please contact Alex Etchen or Deniz Mustafa.