Byrd Bath: Senators Are Gearing Up for a Standoff With the House Over Reconciliation Rules

Senators fully anticipate that certain provisions won’t survive reconciliation rules. House Republicans seem to want a fight.

John Thune
Senate Majority Leader John Thune conducts a news conference after the Senate luncheons in the U.S. Capitol. Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via AP

Senators aren’t the only obstacle the House-passed reconciliation bill is up against. The legislation also has to overcome the so-called Byrd rule — and senators know House Republicans have a very different interpretation of what’s acceptable in reconciliation than the Senate parliamentarian.

“The House has much more liberal views in terms of what they can get into it, but it’s still gotta get through our “Byrd bath” program,” Republican Sen. Mike Rounds told NOTUS. “And there’s gonna be some challenges in there. I don’t know what they are. We just assume that there will be items that may not make it through.”

“That’s the price you pay for getting a 51-vote approval,” Rounds added.