Chuck Grassley in line to lead powerful Senate Budget Committee after Lindsey Graham's death

The sudden death of South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham on July 11 has opened up one of the most consequential jobs in Washington, and Iowa's own Chuck Grassley is among the top contenders to fill it.

Graham, 71, served as the powerful chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, a panel that has become the engine room for President Donald Trump's second-term legislative victories. The committee's unique power stems from its ability to move bills through a process called reconciliation, which requires only a simple majority to pass in the Senate, bypassing the usual 60-vote threshold.

Why the Budget Committee matters more than ever

The Budget Committee might sound likea