Skip to content

How does budget reconciliation work?

How this parliamentary tool skirts the Senate “cooling saucer”

House committees are busy preparing reconciliation bills that can skate through Congress. This round, the goal is to get a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package to President Joe Biden’s desk.

Budget reconciliation is a parliamentary tool that would allow the package to pass in the Senate with just a simple majority, bypassing that chamber’s usual 60-vote threshold to end debate.

But how does this process work, and why can Congress do it at all? Watch as we explain.

[Read more: The cooling saucer and other Senate hooey]

Recent Stories

Trump says Iran deal announcement coming ‘shortly’

Trump tests midterm coattails with visit to Lawler’s ‘Harris district’

Ad in Texas GOP Runoff Attacks Cornyn on Immigration, Islam

Prediction markets put under spotlight by House Oversight panel

Tulsi Gabbard out as DNI but Trump doesn’t tee up a confirmation fight

Dems see ‘missed opportunity’ in Trump resisting Xi’s Hormuz help