John Thune

Senate Majority Leader John Thune called it "risky" for the upper chamber to advance the House GOP's $95 billion budget reconciliation proposal before the midterm elections.

The South Dakota Republican on Thursday warned about putting the measure on the floor and forcing his GOP colleagues to cast tough votes before the November elections, The Hill reported.

“It’s a risky proposition,” Thune told reporters. “Is the juice worth the squeeze?”

He said defense hawks want significantly more funding for the Defense Department than the $60 billion the House budget proposal allocates for the Armed Services Committee, and fiscal hawks want to ensure the package is paid for so it doesn’t add to the deficit.

“You’re going to have defense guys who want more, fiscal hawks who want it paid for and then the question on the floor: ‘Can we get 50 [votes] on anything?'” Thune said.

Thune warned that Senate Democrats will try to divide Republicans with votes on poison pill amendments, such as proposals to restore cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

“Even if we get 50 to pass it, can we defeat all the poison pill amendments?” he said. “You got to think long and hard about this. It’s a much easier proposition in the House.”

While GOP senators want more money for the Pentagon, Thune asked whether $60 billion in new defense funding is worth the political peril of bringing a package to the floor that divides the conference so close to the election.

“It’s a question. Is $60 billion worth the risk of putting something like that on the floor and all the other harm that potentially comes from that?” he said.

The budget reconciliation proposal would include $73 billion to help pay for the Iran war and $10 billion for election reforms.

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., on Thursday threatened to vote against any package that would require states to implement new voting rules before the midterms.

“If I see a reconciliation bill come from the House with another failed attempt to confuse this election, I will use every device I have available to slow down the wheels of government until people cop a clue and do the math,” Tillis said loudly on the Senate floor.

He argued that agencies would have to rush to implement new rules before the November elections and called talk of adding SAVE America Act provisions to any budget package a “charade” and “distraction.”

Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, warned about using the budget reconciliation process, rather than going through the regular appropriations process.

“In general, my view is we should not be using reconciliation, we should work through the normal appropriations process,” Collins said.

“I’m dubious about any reconciliation. I think the House is wishful thinking. Just talk to the appropriators over here. They don’t like reconciliation because it bypasses appropriations. I’d be shocked if it’s possible,” Cornyn said.