theA weekly snapshotcloakroom of Washington from the insiders who know it FEBRUARY 1, 2021 Instead of needing 60 votes, a reconciliation bill only needs a simple majority in the Senate. President Biden has said he The Byrd Rule: blocks all non-revenue wants to go big and needs 10 related measures from being a part of Republican senators to join all 50 Democrats in order to pass reconciliation. the COVID relief legislation through the normal legislative process. Ten Republican senators are meeting at the WH Monday to discuss their proposal that keeps less than a third of the WH proposal. If the budget calls for reconciliation, it tells But a group of centrist sena- Reconciliation starts with the congres- certain committees to change spending, rev- That bill has special status in the tors called the “Sweet Sixteen” sional budget resolution. The budget enues, or deficits by specific amounts. Each Senate. Like the budget, it cannot be could still provide a more cannot be stalled in the Senate by committee writes a bill to achieve its target, filibustered, and only needs a simple bipartisan solution filibuster, and it does not need the and if more than one committee is told to act, majority to pass. President’s signature. the Budget Committee puts the bills together The GOP senators in the gro into one big bill. up are Susan Collins (ME), Lisa Murkowski (AK), Mitt Romney (UT), Rob Portman (OH), Bill Cassidy (LA), Shelley Moore Capito (WV), Jerry Moran (KS) and Todd Young (IN). The Democrats are Sens. Joe Manchin (WV), Mark Warner (VA), Maggie Hassan (NH), Jeanne Sha- heen (NH), Mark Kelly (AZ), John Hickenlooper (CO), Dick Durbin (IL) and Independent Sen. Angus What is budget reconciliation? King (ME). Opening the Cabinet This week, the respective Senate committees are expected to take up these Cabinet nominations: Tom Vilsack Today and tomorrow, the full Senate is scheduled Agriculture to take up these Cabinet nominations: Denis McDonough VA Alejandro Mayorkas Homeland Security Miguel Cardona Education Gina Raimondo Commerce Pete Buttigieg Transportation Michael S. Regan EPA Marty Walsh Labor Order In the House • This week, House Committees on Financial Services, Armed Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Small Business hold their organizational meetings for the new Congress. • We’re still unsure of the final makeup of the full House, but here’s what we know... • former Rep. Claudia Tenney (R) is on the threshold of being declared the winner of the disputed NY-22 contest • in IA-2 Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meek’s (R-Ottumwa) six-vote victory is likely to stand legal challenges • if both parties win the respective upcoming special elections as projected (Democrats to keep, LA-2, NM-1, and OH- 11; Republicans winning LA-5) • the 117th Congress will break 222-213 in the Democrats’ favor MARYLAND | MISSOURI | NEBRASKA | TEXAS | WASHINGTON, DC | WISCONSIN hbstrategies.us.