Speaker Mike Johnson led a cross-section of Home Republicans for a visit down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White Home on Wednesday, the place they’re huddling with President Donald Trump to chew over their technique to advance the president’s bold agenda.
“That is a part of the method…the America First Agenda. We stay up for furthering that dialogue. So, it’s going to be an excellent assembly,” Johnson, R-La., stated earlier than emphasizing the management is “engaged on a one-bill technique.”
It’s not simply elected Home GOP management attending the assembly, as each conservatives and moderates are anticipated to hitch the dialogue. Requested concerning the assembly’s purpose, Johnson instructed reporters that the target is “to maneuver the ball ahead.”
“I believe we’ll,” he stated. “We’re at an excellent place.”
White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt instructed reporters whereas the assembly was occurring that Trump had laid out his tax priorities for the group, most of which he had promised throughout the presidential marketing campaign: not tax on suggestions, Social Safety or time beyond regulation pay; renewing his 2017 tax cuts; adjusting the cap on state and native taxes; eliminating tax breaks for skilled sports activities group house owners; closing the carried curiosity tax deduction loophole; and tax cuts for merchandise made within the U.S.
“This would be the largest tax minimize in historical past for center class, working Individuals,” she stated. “The President is dedicated to working with Congress to get this completed.”
Republicans should cross a price range decision to unlock a fancy course of to enact sweeping reforms to taxes, vitality, border safety and extra. However Johnson at the moment has only a one-vote cushion to cross laws via the decrease chamber, so Republican leaders are cognizant that even a pair of dissenting Republicans might doom their collective efforts.
President Donald Trump shakes arms with Home Speaker Rep. Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Chief John Thune after the Nationwide Prayer Breakfast in Statuary Corridor on the U.S. Capitol, Feb. 6, 2025 in Washington.
Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Photographs
“We have set to work very meticulously with our members to first be certain that we’ve the votes to get a price range handed,” Home Majority Chief Steve Scalise, R-La., stated Wednesday. “We won’t have 22 [Republicans] opposing. We won’t have 4 opposing. And so we’re working via much more element now on what reconciliation would appear to be on the entrance finish earlier than we really get the price range handed.”
Leaving the Capitol Wednesday morning, Scalise boasted that he’s “very assured” Republicans will attain consensus on a price range plan — although he admitted that the assembly right this moment is a “vital step” within the course of.
Scalise additionally raised considerations concerning the Senate’s evolving method, which might punt tax reform to a second try and overhaul the price range late this yr. The No. 2 Home Republican defined that delaying tax reform in 2017 undercut the anticipated financial progress on the time.
“You did not actually get the bounce as a result of it took so lengthy to get the second invoice completed,” Scalise stated. “The President remembers that. You already know, it is one of many causes we misplaced the bulk. And so do you need to repeat that historical past, or do you need to do it earlier? You get the advantages earlier, and improve the probability that you just really get tax [reform], as a result of the query of whether or not or not you possibly can even cross a second invoice is an actual, actual, critical concern.”
Senate Price range Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told senators throughout a closed-door lunch on Wednesday that the Senate will take the reins and start work to advance its personal package deal subsequent week.
Senate Republicans plan to discuss their two-bill method with Trump at Mar-A-Lago on Friday.
