Republican leaders in the House are urgently working to unite their party behind a substantial Senate bill aimed at enacting former President Donald Trump’s domestic agenda before the upcoming holiday weekend.
The effort is proving challenging, as both moderate and conservative Republicans have expressed concerns. Moderates are troubled by the expanded cuts to Medicaid — a change made in the Senate — while conservatives are alarmed by the increased deficit spending also introduced by the Senate. These divisions threaten the bill’s passage, as the GOP holds only a slim majority in the House, necessitating nearly unanimous support from the party.
Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, expressed skepticism about the bill: “If you look at the totality of this, I don’t believe this delivers what the president, what the administration, were working to deliver on,” he said, indicating ongoing efforts to manage deficit spending.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson of Louisiana and other GOP leaders are racing against time to consolidate support for the bill. The legislation is critical to Trump’s second-term agenda, comprising sweeping tax cuts, a hardline stance on immigration, a shift away from green energy policies, and substantial reductions in federal health and nutrition programs.
House GOP members, from moderates to hard-liners, originally cautioned against a bill changed by the Senate that could be perceived as “worse.” They now face a difficult choice: abandon their initial stance to deliver a victory for Trump, or maintain their position and risk defeating the bill.
Echoing the internal struggle, a moderate House Republican remarked to The Hill, “Maybe I’ll get lucky and have a rough enough landing or something that I’m unable to make [it] to D.C. for a few weeks,” underscoring the challenge of their predicament.
Adding to the pressure, former President Trump is strongly advocating for the bill, warning House Republicans of potential primary challenges if they oppose the legislation he terms the “big, beautiful bill.” This is not an idle threat; Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who opposed the House version, has been targeted by a MAGA-super PAC, and Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina faced backlash from Trump, leading to his announcement of retirement after the current term.
While Democrats cannot block the bill, they are underscoring its most controversial elements, like significant cuts to low-income health and nutrition programs — proposals aimed at funding the Republican tax cuts. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized the bill, saying, “This bill won’t make life more affordable for the American people. It will make life more expensive.”
The timeline for passing the legislation adds another layer of complexity. Johnson and GOP leaders aim to meet a self-imposed deadline of July 4, requiring swift action from lawmakers.
Despite the tight timeline, there is skepticism about meeting this goal. Conservatives and moderates alike have voiced concerns about increased national debt and deficits, complicating efforts to consolidate support. Rep. Marlin Stutzman of Indiana stressed the need to ensure the bill is more fiscally responsible for future generations.
On Tuesday, the House Rules Committee held a meeting as the first step in the legislative process. Subsequent actions include convening the House to debate and vote on procedural rules before deciding on the legislation. However, progress is already facing hurdles; Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland, head of the Freedom Caucus, intends to vote against the procedural rule, jeopardizing the bill’s advancement.
Trump continues to push the bill, praising the Senate’s approval and urging the House to follow suit, highlighting its significance. A senior White House official stressed the urgency of passing the bill in its current form before July 4, dismissing any notion of conferencing the House and Senate versions.
As the deadline looms, the White House is intensifying efforts to rally support, with top officials engaged in outreach to ensure the bill’s passage.
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