House GOP unveils plan for Iran war, farm aid, elections
By KEVIN FREKING AND LISA MASCARO | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON - House Republicans on Wednesday unveiled a $95 billion legislative plan focused on boosting defense, aiding farmers and enacting stricter voter registration rules, a sequel to the massive tax and spending cut bill that President Donald Trump signed into law last year.
The 47-page outline, called a budget resolution, is a long-shot undertaking designed to supplement Pentagon funding for the Iran war and address Trump's top priority of changing voter registration requirements. A more ambitious effort was narrowed to address concerns from some conservatives about adding to the deficit. The plan does not seek any offsets to pay for the new spending.
House Speaker Mike Johnson pushed ahead after meeting with Trump at the White House this week in what will be the Republicans' calling card to voters this fall heading into the midterm elections, with control of Congress at stake.
"Safeguarding American elections and strengthening our national defense are the most basic responsibilities of Congress," Johnson said in a statement.
Johnson welcomed the chance to again use a legislative process that would allow Republicans to overpower Democratic objections and eventually approve legislation on a party-line vote, saying the Democrats won't be able to block the GOP's priorities "any longer."
Democrats, however, have argued against the sharply partisan path, particularly for matters ofwar funding.
The Budget Committee is expected to consider the outline today ahead of floor action in the House next week.
The bulk of the $95 billion that Republicans will seek would go for the U.S.-led war against Iran, reflecting the White House's request for supplemental spending to rebuild stockpiles and fund classified programs.
The resolution calls for the House Armed Services Committee to craft legislation that will not increase deficits through 2036 by more than $60 billion; the Select Committee on Intelligence, $13 billion; the Agriculture Committee, $12 billion; and the House Administration Committee, $10 billion.
The latter funding would be focused on enacting aspects of an election law overhaul that requires those registering to vote to provide proof of citizenship and is a top Trump priority. Republicans have said their focus is on enhancing election integrity, but Democrats say it's about suppressing voter turnout, particularly among married women, seniors and minorities who don't have ready access to the documents they would need to present when registering to vote.
Overall, the plan for defense spending is on par with a request the White House submitted to Congress last month, as the Iran war drags past four months. But it falls far short of the $350 billion increase the White House proposed earlier this year to boost defense resources.
Approving extra war funding will be difficult, even among Republicans supporting the Iran effort, as the nation confronts staggering annual deficits reaching nearly $2 trillion this year.