Congressional Republicans announced Wednesday afternoon that they’d reached agreement on a plan between the House and Senate to balance the federal budget in nine years.
The agreement between House and Senate negotiators would send a final budget resolution to both chambers for approval. The plan would not become law, but instead would set overall spending levels and serve as a statement of policy aspirations for the Republican Party.
“This balanced budget reflects a commitment on the part of the House and Senate to fulfill our obligation to be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars,” said House Budget Committee chairman Tom Price. “Our goal has always been to achieve real results for the American people, and I am grateful for the work of so many who have made this agreement and that effort successful.”
The agreement resolves a number of points of difference between the Senate and House versions of Republican budgets.
It would keep defense and non-defense spending levels at statutory caps for fiscal year 2016. But it would also include added Pentagon funding through a war account not subject to the caps to match President Obama’s proposed defensing spending, a workaround that had not been included in the Senate version.
If passed, the joint resolution would also include a pathway for the GOP to repeal Obamacare with only 51 votes in the Senate, bypassing the filibuster. Republicans had debated use of the procedural tool for several legislative priorities, but the conference agreement affirms it for the sole purpose of placing a bill to repeal the health care law on President Obama’s desk.
The agreement, which was originally due last Wednesday, was delayed this week by an objection by Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., to the inclusion of one budgeting convention he described as a “gimmick.”
But Corker signed on to the agreement late Wednesday morning, saying that “it has been a long time since the Congress has completed this basic part of governing.” Corker added that he’d spoken with other Republicans about improving next year’s version of the budget.
Mike Enzi, the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee who represents Wyoming, said that if both chambers vote for the agreement, it will mark the first time since 2001 that Congress has approved a 10-year balanced budget.
Democrats, now in the minority in the Senate, have harshly criticized both measures as containing unjustifiable cuts to programs that benefit poor Americans, and have challenged Republicans’ accounting.
“This will help change the way we do business here in Washington to make the government live within its means — just like hardworking families,” Enzi said.
