Joe Biden, answering a question during his arrival the South Lawn of the White House after stepping off Marine One, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Joe Biden appeared to threaten to use the budget reconciliation process to pass other items on the Democrats’ agenda. Upon arriving at the White House Sunday, Biden was asked by a reporter whether he was considering using the Senate procedure to usher in immigration reform.
REPORTER: Does immigration need to be in reconciliation? Immigration, a pathway for citizenship?
BIDEN: There needs to be a pathway for citizenship, whether it can be in immigration remains to be seen.
While he did not give a direct answer, several of the White House pool reporters came to the same conclusion that reconciliation was an option. The question of alternative pathways to citizenship for illegal immigrants gained traction after a federal judge in Texas blocked new applicants from joining the DACA program.
If Democrats choose to use reconciliation, they must first receive confirmation from the Senate parliamentarian that the move is allowed. This isn’t the only issue being weighed by use of this process. Democrats have suggested budget reconciliation may be used to pass election reform legislation, specifically regarding mail-in ballots.
.@POTUS45:
"Republicans must take seriously the effort by Democrats to completely change America through the Reconciliation Process. Democrats are now suggesting that budget reconciliation can be used to pass Mail-In Ballot legislation…"
FULL STATEMENT: pic.twitter.com/9aeDpoJPyQ
— Natalie Harp (@NatalieJHarp) July 21, 2021
Source: One America News Network
