U.S. Capitol Building (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)
I ventured outside the Capitol onto the plaza near the Library of Congress to see if any of the tourists visiting Washington for the spring cherry blossoms had heard of Elizabeth MacDonough. There I came across Billy Coman from Dublin, Ireland, visiting Washington for the first time.
"Here’s a name that sounds kind of Irish," I said to Coman. "Who is Elizabeth MacDonough?"
Coman pondered the question for a moment.
"Elizabeth MacDonough," Coman said with an Irish lilt. "Is that the comedian?"
I asked a woman named Shirley from Anchorage, Alaska, if she knew the name.
TRUMP TAX CUTS ‘TOP PRIORITY’ FOR CONGRESS SAYS TOP HOUSE GOP LEADER
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., in the East Room of the White House in Washington on Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
"As Budget Chairman, under Section 312 of the Congressional Budget Act, I have the authority to determine baseline numbers for spending and revenue," said Graham. "Under that authority, I have determined that current policy will be the budget baseline regarding taxation."
In other words, Graham felt he didn’t need MacDonough to tell him the "baseline" to determine whether this package comports with special budgetary provisions in the Senate. But the next step in passing the tax cut bill could be trickier.
Everyone will watch what MacDonough rules is in or out. In fact, her calls could alter the trajectory of the president’s "big, beautiful bill."
"We are in conversations, as you know, with the parliamentarian about the best way to get budget reconciliation we're trying to help across the finish line," said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D.
Otherwise, the bill could face a Senate filibuster and likely die. So there’s an advantage for Senate Republicans to handle their framework within the parameters of the unique budget rules — lest they run afoul of an adverse ruling from the parliamentarian.
In fact, consulting with the parliamentarian mirrors football. Case in point, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala. Tuberville was the head football coach at Ole Miss, Auburn, Texas Tech and Cincinnati before coming to Capitol Hill.
The chamber of the U.S. Senate on Thursday, April 7, 2022, in Washington. (Senate Television via AP)
The Senate stuck around into the wee hours of Saturday morning, approving the latest budget framework crafted by Graham for the legislation. It’s now onto the House. House GOP leaders would like to tackle the bill Wednesday. But they’re starting midway through the week on the bill in case there are hiccups.
Or worse.
More than a handful of House Republicans say they oppose the Senate’s latest framework. The House and Senate must approve the same blueprint in order to actually do the bill itself. That’s key because the Senate needs a unified framework in place to use the budget reconciliation process to avoid a filibuster. And MacDonough’s rulings on whether various provisions fit into this bill — in compliance with the Budget Act — could have sway. Budget rules do not allow the legislation to add to the deficit over a 10-year window.
Tariffs are not in the bill. But Democrats claim tariffs and tax cuts are linked.
"They're using tariff revenue to balance out the money that they're going to shovel to a bunch of billionaires," claimed Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, of the tax cuts.
The Trump administration asserts that the tax cuts will ease tariff anxiety, which has rattled the markets in recent days.
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Former U.S. President Donald Trump is pictured in front of the U.S. Capitol. (Getty Images)
"The sooner we can get certainty on tax, the sooner we can set the stage for the growth to resume," said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to colleague Bret Baier at the White House last week.
Regardless, the House may struggle to align with the new Senate package. And it’s likely the House must adjust to whatever the Senate requires in order to comply with the parliamentarian.
There are a lot of players whom you will hear about in the next months as Republicans try to finish the bill. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. House Freedom Caucus Chairman Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Tex. All are key players as Republicans continue on this trek.
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It is often said in officiating that good referees are invisible. The ones you don’t notice.
But with so much at stake, it will be hard for Republicans to avoid noticing the calls by the parliamentarian.
Chad Pergram currently serves as a senior congressional correspondent for FOX News Channel (FNC). He joined the network in September 2007 and is based out of Washington, D.C.
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