5 things you need to know now
5 things you need to know now
Parliamentarian ruling could clear the way for Dems to use reconciliation to pass more legislation
Police chief testifies Chauvin 'absolutely' violated policies in Floyd arrest
Arkansas governor vetoes anti-trans health care bill
U.S. on pace to be 1st major country to vaccinate 75 percent of population
Harvey Weinstein's lawyers begin 'lengthy effort' to overturn his rape conviction
The Senate parliamentarian issued an opinion on Monday that a spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said could give Democrats more opportunities to pass major pieces of legislation this year without any Republican support. "The parliamentarian has advised that a revised budget resolution may contain budget reconciliation instructions," the spokesperson said, adding that this confirms Schumer's "interpretation of the Budget Act and allows Democrats additional tools to improve the lives of Americans if Republican obstruction continues." Budget reconciliation is a procedural tool that Democrats used last month to avoid Republican filibusters and pass President Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill with a simple majority.