In Washington, House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana is aiming for a committee vote next week to launch a significant multi-trillion-dollar package to advance President Donald Trump’s legislative goals. However, before moving forward, Johnson must first unite his small and divided Republican majority in the House.
Johnson is keen on demonstrating progress as he faces pressure to align with the GOP-controlled Senate, where a competing resolution is being considered by the budget committee. House Republicans are currently at odds over key aspects of a party-line bill focusing on tax reforms, border security, and energy policies – including decisions on spending cuts, program reductions, deficit management, and tax restructuring.
“We are nearing the finish line after some discussions and checks. I am optimistic about our progress,” Johnson informed reporters on Friday. “We anticipate marking up a budget resolution early next week, possibly as soon as Tuesday, to kick off the process.”
Utilizing budget reconciliation, a procedural tactic to bypass the Senate’s 60-vote requirement without Democratic support, Republicans are maneuvering to advance their agenda. Johnson’s statements follow recent announcements by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt outlining Trump’s ambitious tax plans, including renewing the 2017 tax law, eliminating certain taxes, and introducing tax breaks for domestic manufacturing.
The Committee For a Responsible Federal Budget projected that these measures could substantially increase the national debt. To address this, Republicans are eyeing significant spending cuts, although the bill is far from being deficit neutral.
“There are various areas for potential cuts, including student loan programs and Medicaid requirements,” stated Rep. Chip Roy of Texas. “It’s crucial to handle these matters carefully to avoid gimmicks.”
Democrats have criticized the proposed package, accusing Republicans of prioritizing tax cuts for the wealthy over essential middle-class programs.
“There’s an internal GOP conflict regarding the budget,” remarked House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. “They are more focused on tax cuts for the wealthy and cutting Medicaid, neglecting the needs of the middle class.”
Johnson plans to finalize details and brief Trump on the Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, after returning to Louisiana on Friday afternoon.
The discussion in the meeting focused on the upcoming budget resolution and its implications for various policy areas, particularly border security, military funding, and energy provisions. Johnson emphasized the importance of keeping the President and his team informed about the progress made so far and the developments expected in the near future.
On the same day, Senator Lindsey Graham introduced his own budget resolution in the Senate, which includes provisions for border security, the military, and energy, but notably excludes a renewal of the Trump tax cuts. This decision reflects the Senate Republicans’ view that addressing tax cuts will require more time and is best left for a later date.
Graham highlighted that the budget resolution aims to provide the necessary funding for securing the border, deporting criminals, and enhancing America’s energy independence. However, a hurdle for Republicans is the requirement for both chambers to pass an identical budget resolution before drafting the bill can begin.
Johnson mentioned ongoing communication with Graham to coordinate the legislative process, emphasizing the importance of the House taking the lead on reconciliation. In contrast to the Senate’s approach, House Republicans are pushing for a comprehensive reconciliation package that includes the Trump tax cuts alongside other priorities.
Both Johnson and House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington expressed their intention to debate and vote on a budget resolution in committee the following week. Arrington acknowledged the need to finalize details but indicated progress in reaching agreements on key elements of the budget outline.
The recent developments stem from a series of closed-door GOP budget negotiations and a meeting between Republican lawmakers and the President at the White House. Representative Ralph Norman, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, voiced general support for the budget framework discussed by Johnson and Arrington but highlighted unresolved issues related to spending cuts, growth rates, and spending limits.
Norman underscored the ongoing efforts to address these outstanding matters and expressed optimism about reaching consensus within the party.
