Winner Take All Budget Politics

“As House Republicans try to pass a 2016 budget blueprint, GOP leadership is relying on an obscure legislative procedure to try to break the impasse between staunch fiscal conservatives and defense hawks,” Politico reports.

“The move is called called ‘Queen of the Hill,’ and it’s hardly ever used on Capitol Hill. Speaker John Boehner (R-OH)… will allow one vote on Rep. Tom Price’s (R-GA) Budget Committee’s spending plan, which infuriated defense-minded lawmakers who thought it underfunded the Pentagon.”

“They’ll also allow a vote on a nearly identical budget, which includes language to increase defense spending. Whichever plan gets the most votes will become the House GOP’s budget. It’s a gamble for GOP leadership. It is betting that Price’s budget will fail and the spending plan with increased defense money will pass and become the fiscal plan for the House Republican Conference.”