BUDGET/POLITICS/TRUMP PEOPLE/MICK MULVANEY: “To advance a tax overhaul this year, congressional Republicans first must clear a tricky hurdle: They need to agree on a budget.
In many years, budget resolutions are superfluous or impossible because the House and Senate are controlled by different parties. In fact, in eight of the past 15 years, Congress didn’t even complete one.
This year that is not an option if Republicans want to advance their ambitious fiscal agenda. Yet even though they control both houses, an array of challenges stand in their way, including intense intraparty fighting over priorities including deficit reduction, restraining entitlement costs and increasing military spending.
‘It’s going to be tough,’ said Mick Mulvaney, the White House budget director and a former House member. ‘It’s tough every single year.’ “
-Richard Rubin and Kate Davidson, “GOP’s Path to Tax Changes Slowed by Upcoming Budget Fight,” The Wall Street Journal online, May 18, 2017 11:10am