John Thune endorses Lindsey Graham's Senate budget reconciliation plan

By 
 February 7, 2025

Politico reported earlier this week that House Speaker Mike Johnson's plan to pass a budget reconciliation bill "is at risk of collapse" amid Republican infighting.

Yet in what could prove to be a victory for President Donald Trump, the Senate is apparently moving ahead with a bill of its own. 

Senate majority leader endorses plan from Lindsey Graham

According to Fox News, Senate Majority Leader John Thune has endorsed the move in what "would be a significant departure from current plans for the House to pass a bill first."

That came after Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham revealed plans for a bill following a lunch meeting on Wednesday.

"I appreciate Chairman Graham’s leadership in crafting a budget resolution that will unlock the ability to pass a reconciliation bill to secure the border, rebuild our military, and deliver a much-needed down payment on energy security," Thune was quoted as telling Fox News in a statement.

"I am supportive of Chairman Graham’s efforts to advance the president’s priorities in the Senate, and I look forward to continuing our conversations with our House colleagues," the South Dakota senator added.

Graham: "It's time to act"

Graham provided a statement of his own which explained that his resolution "will be the blueprint that unlocks the pathway forward for a fully paid for reconciliation bill to secure the border, bolster our military and increase American energy independence."

"To those who believe that Republicans should fulfill their promises on border security, mass deportation of criminal illegal aliens: I agree," Graham said.

"That is why the Senate Budget Committee will be moving forward next week to give the Trump Administration’s Border Czar, Tom Homan, the money he needs to finish the wall, hire ICE agents to deport criminal illegal immigrants, and create more detention beds so that we do not release more dangerous people into the country," he continued.

"This will be the most transformational border security bill in the history of our country. It’s time to act," the Republican lawmaker stressed.

Plan involves "a two-pronged approach"

Fox News pointed out how the proposed budget deal would consist of "a two-pronged approach" involving two separate pieces of legislation.

The first bill would concern itself with the president's policy agenda on border security, domestic energy production, and national defense.

Meanwhile, the second bill would be passed later in the year and work to extend the tax cuts passed during Trump's first term in office.

" A free people [claim] their rights, as derived from the laws of nature."
Thomas Jefferson