House GOP leaders are scrambling to approve a sprawling budget reconciliation package packed with defense and election integrity priorities, but Republican lawmakers in both chambers are pouring cold water on the process.The intraparty skepticism, including concerns over the lack of spending offsets, is throwing the ambitious timeline into doubt.And the move to attach the SAVE America Act to the process has already turned off some of its GOP opponents."If we keep on layering layers of complexity, like another bogus attempt at the SAVE Act, then we're never gonna get it done," Sen.
Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said.When asked if it included the legislation if he would vote "no," Tillis said, "Absolutely."Sen.Thom Tillis, R-N.C., makes his way to a vote in the U.S.
Capitol on Thursday, April 30, 2026.(Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc.)SENATE FACES 'COME-TO-JESUS' MOMENT ON TRUMP'S ELECTION PRIORITY UNDER GOP'S NEW PLAN"And I'll slow other things down, too," the retiring senator said.
"It's a waste of time.It's an exercise of futility, and those are the only positive things I can think of to say about it."Still, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has voiced confidence that both chambers can approve a budget blueprint — the first step in the complex reconciliation process — before lawmakers leave Washington for the August recess.
The House Budget Committee advanced the budget plan Thursday, teeing up floor consideration as soon as next week.But across the building, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said that Johnson’s assurance was, "news to me."Thune acknowledged the desire to push both defense funding and the SAVE America Act through the party line process, but warned of consequences that could appear along the way."Again, the question is $60 billion worth the risk of putting something like that on the floor, and all the other harm that could potentially come from that," Thune said.The truncated timeline comes as the House is expected to leave for August rece...