May 6, 2025 - Politics & Policy

Inside Jeffries' plan to maximize GOP budget headaches

Andrew Solender

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wearing a blue suit and holding his hands together in a dark brown wooden room. — House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries speaks at a press conference on May 5. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday will unveil his plan to put swing-district House Republicans in the hot seat on the most potent aspects of their party's budget bill.

Why it matters: Democrats are scrambling to try to sink the massive tax and spending cut package by drilling down on cuts to benefits that constituents in key GOP districts rely upon.

Driving the news: At a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Jeffries will announce what is known as a discharge petition, which can bypass GOP leadership and force a vote on legislation if 218 House members sign on.

The underlying measure would be aimed at protecting Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, two sources familiar with the matter told Axios.
It will be part of a broader pressure campaign to get Republicans in battleground districts to oppose the budget bill over cuts to Medicaid and SNAP — or own the cuts.

Zoom in: The move comes after a trio of vulnerable House Republicans introduced what is called a point of order to protect benefits for recipients who are pregnant, disabled, under 19 or over 65 years old.

That maneuver was introduced by Rep. Zach Nunn (R-Iowa) and co-sponsored by Reps. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wisc.) and Don Bacon (R-Neb.).

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Inside Jeffries' plan to maximize GOP budget headaches

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