Thune warns there aren’t 50 votes to advance budget resolution after Trump demands action

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) warned Wednesday he does not currently see 50 Republican votes for advancing a budget resolution, after President Trump renewed his call for the Senate to advance a budget framework to fund the war in Iran and perhaps raise the national debt limit.

“We’ll have a more fulsome conversation about that later,” Thune said after Trump this week renewed his call for the Senate to act on a House-approved budget resolution.

“Right now, we don’t have 50,” he added.

If passed, the resolution would unlock the reconciliation process whereby Republicans could pass an emergency spending package through Congress and avoid a Democratic filibuster.

The package would include $73 billion to help fund the Iran war effort, $12 billion for farmers and $10 billion in incentives to states to reform election procedures.

Trump on Tuesday called on Senate Republicans to pass the House budget framework before leaving for the five-week August recess.

Passage of a joint budget resolution would allow the GOP-controlled Senate and House to move........

© The Hill