WASHINGTON — A faction of House Republicans pushed back against party leadership on Wednesday as they negotiated a critical tax reform bill backed by President Donald Trump. The hardline conservatives expressed their dissent during a crucial House Rules Committee meeting that dragged into its twelfth hour on the morning after its initiation.
As efforts intensified to rally support for the tax legislation ahead of a self-imposed Memorial Day deadline, members of the House Freedom Caucus voiced their strong opposition to the proposed timeline. “I don’t think it can be done today. I mean, the runway is short today. The leadership is going to have to figure out you know where to go from here,” stated House Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris, R-Md., while addressing reporters on Capitol Hill.
Another prominent conservative, Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, noted that Freedom Caucus members had a scheduled afternoon meeting with Trump at the White House, aimed at addressing their concerns. “We’re going to work with the president today, we’re going to work with our colleagues to deliver, but there’s a long way to go,” Roy commented to the media.
Given the narrow majority held by Speaker Mike Johnson, the Republican leadership can only afford to lose a limited number of votes for the bill to advance through a straight party line vote. The influence of the Freedom Caucus remains significant, as their dissent against the tax package could jeopardize its passage in its existing format.
Despite these challenges, both Johnson and Trump maintained optimism on Wednesday about the potential for the bill to advance before the holiday weekend. “There is a chance for a vote today,” Johnson remarked early in the proceedings, while Trump expressed a more buoyant outlook, stating he felt “very well” about the bill’s prospects during comments to the press at the White House. “We’re doing really well, it’s very close,” he added before a meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Before the tax proposal can be brought to a vote on the House floor, it is necessary for the Republican members on the Rules Committee to approve the specific rules governing the debate surrounding the bill.
The tax legislation aims to fulfill key promises from Trump’s campaign, including making permanent the tax cuts established in 2017, raising the SALT (State and Local Tax) cap, and abolishing taxes on tips. According to a recent analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, “resources would decrease for households in the lowest decile (tenth) of the income distribution, whereas resources would increase for households in the highest decile.”
Trump visited the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, urging House Republicans to support the bill. He also issued a clear warning not to “f— around with Medicaid,” signaling his concern over discussions among some Republicans about potential cuts to the federal health-care program that serves primarily low-income individuals.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
