House approves budget resolution, tees up tax overhaul

WASHINGTON—Republicans moved one step closer to tax reform Thursday when the House narrowly agreed to the Senate’s 2018 budget proposal. The resolution passed on a 216-212 vote, with 20 Republicans joining Democrats to vote against. Just two more GOP defections would have tanked the measure. Fiscal conservatives did not like the budget deal because it doesn’t balance and adds $1.5 trillion to the national deficit. But GOP leaders managed to whip just enough support with the promise of a tax overhaul in the near future. Now that the budget resolution has cleared both the House and Senate, tax writing committees can draft legislation with reconciliation instructions to avoid needing Democratic votes. “By passing this budget today, House Republicans just provided the legislative runway for pro-growth tax reform,” said Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. “Our successful vote will allow us to move forward quickly on delivering the first overhaul of America’s tax code in more than three decades.” Brady said he plans to unveil a long-awaited draft of the GOP tax bill on Nov. 1. His committee will begin a markup of the legislation Nov. 6.