House passes budget framework, sets up huge funding battles

The US House narrowly passed the Senate-approved budget blueprint Thursday, by a vote of 216-214. The vote unleashes the power to sidestep filibusters and deliver a funding bill to the president’s desk this summer.

The tight margin was secured through a mix of White House pressure and a public commitment from Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who appeased budget hawks by pledging to cut at least $1.5 trillion in the final legislation.

What now? This is just a rough sketch – lawmakers must now decide what specific items will, and won’t, make it into the final bill.

According to the agreed-upon framework, Republicans can boost military spending by $150 billion and add $175 billion for border security and immigration enforcement.

The brewing battle: How to find the $1.5 trillion in cuts that were promised to conservative hardliners. It’s a target that appears virtually impossible to hit without touching Medicaid or other entitlement benefits, moves that would be deeply unpopular among a large majority of Americans.