House and Senate committees move forward on dueling budget plans

Washington — House and Senate Republicans are racing to keep pace on competing budget proposals to enact President Trump's top priorities, with committees in both chambers voting to advance their respective plans this week.

The House Budget Committee marked up its resolution on Thursday, one day after the Senate Budget Committee did the same. The House is pursuing one massive package, while the Senate plans to divide its work into two.

But the chambers will have to approve identical budget resolutions to move forward with the reconciliation process, which allows them to avoid the 60-vote threshold typically required in the Senate. Going that route would allow Republicans to pass the legislation without any Democratic support. Under budget reconciliation, the package may only include provisions dealing with taxes, spending or the debt limit. And any new spending must be paid for.