Senate parliamentarian rules national school choice out of budget bill

Early Friday, the Senate parliamentarian advised that a national school choice tax credit program would require 60 votes if it is included in the “one, big beautiful” budget bill.

Elizabeth MacDonough, an appointed official who decides if matters can be included in the reconciliation process, making them exempt from the filibuster, also advised that an endowment tax exemption for religious schools, such as Michigan’s Hillsdale College, would need the same 60 votes, Politico reports.

The Senate Finance Committee had proposed an annual $4 billion tax credit to fund school choice as part of the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA). If approved, the program would double the number of school choice participants nationwide to 2.4 million. It would also be available in every state, not only the 35 that currently have school choice programs.

It was not yet clear if Republicans will try to rework these and other tax provisions MacDonough deemed inappropriate for the reconciliation process to include them in the budget bill. The Senate has stated its intent to pass a budget bill by July 4.

This story is breaking and may be updated.