On this episode: The budget reconciliation process occurs if Congress passes a budget resolution for the fiscal year that gives reconciliation instructions. It’s used to override the filibuster and expedite the approval of a package of legislation in Congress that changes spending, revenues, or the debt limit — making it an ideal tool for the Trump administration to advance their agenda. These bills require a simple majority (51 votes) instead of the three-fifths majority (60 votes) usually needed in the Senate to bring bills to a vote and approve them. 

Here’s a breakdown of how it works, where it originated, and how it’s been used in recent years in packages like 2018’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act or 2022’s Inflation Reduction Act. 

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