US House Republican Considers Linking Border Policy to Tax Bill in 2022

Republicans in Congress are gearing up for a potential power play if they sweep the upcoming elections on Nov. 5. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise revealed their strategy to pass a series of tax, border, and economic policies through a legislative maneuver called “budget reconciliation” that would bypass Democratic objections.

Scalise emphasized that if Donald Trump wins the presidency and Republicans secure the Senate and House, they would use reconciliation to maintain tax cuts from Trump’s presidency and roll back Democratic regulations on industries like energy. This process allows lawmakers to pass fiscal legislation with a simple majority vote, sidestepping the usual Senate rules requiring 60 votes.

The Republicans’ plan also includes bolstering security at the U.S.-Mexico border by funding more security agents, technology, and completing the border wall. However, even with full control of Congress, they may still face obstacles in passing tax and spending legislation.

The current House Republican majority has struggled to advance spending bills due to internal party conflicts over spending cuts and policy riders. Despite passing a $78 billion tax breaks package for businesses and low-income families in the House, it has stalled in the Senate.

President Trump is considering a new middle-class tax cut, which could be popular with voters but may worsen the budget deficit. Scalise aims to retain the tax cuts implemented after Trump’s 2016 election, despite criticism from Democrats and others that they added $2 trillion to the federal deficit.

As the elections draw near, the political landscape is heating up, with Republicans eyeing a potential opportunity to push their agenda forward if they secure a clean sweep in November.