By a narrow 51-to-49 margin, Senate
Republicans passed an FY18 budget widely viewed as having more to do with GOP
promises to deliver tax reform than with how government spending would be
allocated in the coming year. The House
subsequently followed suit in passing the Senate version. The Budget Resolution contains reconciliation
instructions for the revenue committees to increase the deficit over the next
decade by $1.5 trillion in order to enact tax reform legislation. Under budget reconciliation rules, the Senate
can pass budget-related legislation such as tax reform with a simple majority.
Senate Republicans believe this strategy is their best hope of passing a tax
bill in 2017.
On
the appropriations front, Congress and President Trump have until Dec. 8 to
reach agreement on a budget or pass a stopgap funding measure to avoid a
government shutdown.