Johnson talks to reporters as he departs for the White House Wednesday. Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
The House passed its budget reconciliation bill early Thursday morning after Republicans made a last-minute slate of changes to win the votes of conservative hardliners.
Why it matters: The 215-214 vote advances a GOP policy agenda that includes Medicaid work requirements, a phaseout of IRA energy tax credits and a reauthorization of the FCC's spectrum auction authority.
- It came after President Trump pressured the holdouts to move the bill forward, giving House Speaker Mike Johnson just enough room to push it through with his razor-thin GOP majority.
What's inside: The revised bill would start Medicaid work requirements faster than originally planned — moving up the start date to the end of 2026 — but doesn't contain the cuts to federal share of costs for the Medicaid expansion, or FMAP, that conservatives were seeking.
- It also includes a major change to the Affordable Care Act marketplaces that would have the effect of reducing the federal subsidies that defray premium costs.
- On energy, the amended bill would move up the end of the investment and production tax credits to phase them out for projects that come onto the grid after 2028.
What they're saying: "A yes vote gets America's economy moving again, allows President Trump to continue fighting for the hard-working families," House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said before the vote.
- House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the bill "undermines the progress we have made in confronting the climate crisis."
What's next: The Senate is expected to start work on its own reconciliation package after the Memorial Day recess. It's likely to look very different from the House bill.
