Heritage Explains: Getting More out of Budget Reconciliation | Dan Kowalski

This episode of Heritage Explains explores the budget reconciliation process in the U.S. Senate, a procedural tool that allows legislation to pass with just 51 votes instead of the usual 60, bypassing a filibuster. Host Mark Giney welcomes Dan Kowalski, Director of the Grover M. Herman Center for the Federal Budget at the Heritage Foundation, to discuss why reconciliation is currently in the spotlight due to Senate Democrats blocking a clean vote on funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Kowalski explains that Republicans are pursuing a 'skinny reconciliation' bill focused only on the Judiciary and Homeland Security committees to fund these agencies, but he argues this is a missed opportunity. He advocates for a broader reconciliation effort that could address systemic issues like Medicaid cost-sharing, defunding Planned Parenthood, and reforming food stamp eligibility to save billions. The episode emphasizes that with Republican control of all three branches, this is a rare window to enact meaningful fiscal reform, and failing to act now may mean losing the chance for years. Kowalski stresses that while a skinny reconciliation is politically expedient, it undermines the full potential of the reconciliation process, which was designed to bring revenues and outlays into alignment. He urges lawmakers to expand the scope of reconciliation in the budget resolution to include more committees—like Finance and Agriculture—so that more impactful reforms can be pursued. The episode concludes with a call to action: seize this moment to pass comprehensive fiscal reforms before the congressional session ends, as future opportunities may not arise. The tone is urgent and policy-focused, with a clear conservative perspective on fiscal responsibility and government efficiency.