Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) is now openly calling for Republicans to ram the SAVE America Act through reconciliation, a legislative maneuver that would allow passage with just 50 votes plus the Vice President. Budget reconciliation is a special parliamentary process in the U.S. Senate that allows for the expedited passage of legislation regarding spending, revenue, or the debt limit, requiring only a simple majority (51 votes or 50 + Vice President) rather than the 60 votes usually needed to overcome a filibuster.
Created by the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this process is limited to budget-related matters and cannot be used for general policy changes. Although under the “Byrd Rule,” provisions must have a direct impact on the budget. “Extraneous” items that do not significantly impact spending or revenue are forbidden and can be stripped out.
