Senate Parliamentarian Allows Democrats to Bypass Republican Filibuster on Two Bills

On Monday, Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled that Democrats can pass two more bills without Republican support by using the budget reconciliation process once again this fiscal year. This allows Democrats to pass two budget-related bills with a simple majority instead of the usual 60-vote threshold requirement. Democrats have already passed two reconciliation bills, with one focused on fiscal year 2021 and one focused on fiscal year 2022. The decision comes from MacDonough’s interpretation of Section 304 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, which states lawmakers may revise a budget resolution before the end of the fiscal year that it covers. The ruling now allows Democrats to edit the 2021 budget resolution they already passed, and include instructions for another bill. A spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Monday that “no decisions have been made on a legislative path forward using Section 304 and some parameters still need to be worked out.”While details of Democrats' plan for this additional opportunity have yet to be released, many speculate it will be used to approve President Joe Biden's multi-trillion dollar infrastructure plan, which is split into two bills. The story received consistent coverage from across the political spectrum.