GOP trying to skirt criticism of budget bill with ‘dead of night’ votes, Dems say

The House Rules Committee has announced that it will convene at 1 a.m. on Wednesday morning to take the next steps in advancing President Trump’s “big, beautiful” budget bill. This move has sparked accusations from Democrats, who are labeling the late-night sessions as cowardly and an attempt to push the monumental bill through under the cover of darkness.

The House Budget Committee reached a consensus to pass the bill to the Rules Committee late Sunday evening, after commencing their meeting at around 10:00 p.m. Following this decision, the Rules Committee is now tasked with setting out the rules for debate and markup, which are expected to take place in the GOP-controlled House of Representatives.

Criticism from Democrats has been swift, with accusations that the late-night legislative sessions are an effort to avoid scrutiny. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts took to Twitter to question the scheduling of votes in the “dead of night” and suggested that the bill aims to strip healthcare from vulnerable groups such as babies, new mothers, and seniors.

The main point of contention in the budget negotiations has been the proposed cuts to federal programs in order to extend President Trump’s tax cuts from his first term. Democrats have been particularly vocal in their opposition to cuts to federal healthcare programs like Medicaid, arguing that it will harm those who rely on these services the most.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned the Republican efforts to advance the bill under the cover of darkness, highlighting the unpopularity of the proposed cuts to healthcare and nutritional assistance programs. He accused Republicans of trying to push through these controversial measures when they know they are deeply unpopular.

Despite the criticism, Republicans are aiming to pass the budget bill by Memorial Day, necessitating a quick turnaround in the legislative process. As a result, the House Rules Committee has been called to convene early Wednesday morning to move the bill forward swiftly.

While the urgency to meet the Memorial Day deadline is apparent, Democrats are adamant that the process lacks transparency and is being rushed through without proper scrutiny. Representative Gregory Meeks of New York pointed out the apparent hypocrisy of Republicans scheduling late-night sessions, given their previous criticisms of similar practices during the American Rescue Plan.

In conclusion, the debate over President Trump’s budget bill continues to be contentious, with Democrats accusing Republicans of advancing the bill in the dead of night to avoid public scrutiny. As the House Rules Committee prepares to convene early Wednesday morning, the future of the “big, beautiful” budget bill remains uncertain amidst growing opposition from the Democratic Party.