Illustration: Natalie Peeples/Axios
House Republican leaders could move ahead with a vote on their budget resolution despite divisions in their conference about spending cuts.
Why it matters: The resolution would unlock a mega-reconciliation bill to bolster oil and gas drilling and repeal IRA programs.
State of play: Some House conservatives are threatening to sink it on the floor in a bid for bigger spending cuts.
- Moderates, meanwhile, are concerned about cuts to Medicaid.
Between the lines: The resolution directs the Energy and Commerce Committee to come up with $880 billion in cuts. Questions remain about how much can come from energy policy cuts versus changes to Medicaid.
- House Budget Chair Jodey Arrington said Tuesday that "a big chunk of it" can come from energy.
- That's in part because Republicans believe they can use the reconciliation bill to repeal Biden auto emissions regulations.
- "The EV mandate is a significant cost," Arrington told reporters.
Yes, but: Much like the push to enact the REINS Act, Republicans may struggle to get a regulatory rollback into a reconciliation bill.
- Senate rules generally require that reconciliation provisions have a direct impact on federal spending or revenue.
- Arrington argued that a tailpipe standard rollback would "absolutely" work in a reconciliation bill.
- But he acknowledged Republicans would have to "thread the needle" to get REINS through the Senate parliamentarian.
What we're watching: If they can pass the resolution, look for authorizing committees to start fleshing out specifics.
- Natural Resources Chair Bruce Westerman told Axios on Tuesday that he's already written most of his portion, which will expand oil and gas leasing.
- "Nobody's gonna be waiting on us," he said.
