Republican lawmakers who back the tougher immigration policies touted by President-elect Donald Trump and top leaders on his transition team have started plotting how to use unified control of government next year to best address funding and policy goals of the next administration.
Senate Republicans are planning as much as $85 billion for border security as part of an initial bill for budget reconciliation, the process that enables the chamber to get around the 60-vote threshold needed to overcome a filibuster on legislation. The GOP is set to have a 53-47 majority next year.
Much of what Republicans plan to do with immigration legislation and spending bills depends on what can be included in that reconciliation process, and what moves the Trump administration makes with executive actions and immigration enforcement.
