The public back-and-forth of President-elect Trump on whether Republicans should pass their agenda as two separate packages or in one large package has intensified the disagreements between legislators and Trump.
Trump staked his claim over the weekend, calling for “one powerful bill” to address energy, border concerns, taxes, and perhaps the debt ceiling. In an interview with CNN on Monday, he seemed to undermine himself, saying that he would be open to two different bills. This muddied up the debate over which direction the party ought to take.
The ambiguity of the president-elect has complicated the strategy debates on Capitol Hill. Top lawmakers have publicly acknowledged that it would be a difficult battle no matter which path they chose.
“There are going to be challenges in any way we do it,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said, “This is hard stuff — really hard stuff, very heavy lifting. A lot of hard work ahead of us, but it’s got to get done.”
For most of last month, top Republicans disagreed on how to proceed. Republicans from both chambers intend to pass Trump’s major agenda items using the reconciliation process. This would avoid the Senate filibuster.
Thune’s plan included two bills: the first would deal with border and energy concerns, and the second would extend Trump’s tax cut and address other issues. House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.) proposed the plan. Trump said he was a main proponent of a “beautiful law”.
Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), who sits on the Appropriations Committee, said that she expected clarity “this week” on one or several bills. She said she prefers to have two measures. Smith, however, said that a single measure would be the final decision.
“You guys really like to stir up s‑‑‑,” Smith said when asked about Trump’s interview with Hugh Hewitt, appearing to be miffed by questions surrounding Trump’s comments from earlier in the day.
“What he said is his preference is one bill — he just wants it passed,” Smith said, adding he was not concerned with the possibility Trump walked back the one-bill idea. “Absolutely not. This is s‑‑‑. Absolutely not.”
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) On his part, Johnson told reporters “the plan was always to have one law in the House”, and that “the assumption at this point” is that there will be only one. Johnson said that legislators were “figuring out the most efficient and effective way” to advance Trump’s agenda.
He stated that he had spoken to Thune as well as the President-elect, on Monday morning.
The Senate might have a different opinion and perspective on reconciliation or the best strategy than the House. Johnson said that it is fine because this is all part of the procedure. We will accomplish our mission. We build consensus around ideas. ”
Since summer, Republicans have been eager to discuss reconciliation without having to appease Democrats.
The members have long wanted to extend the tax reductions implemented by Trump in 2017. Many of them expire by the end of the year.
Trump is scheduled to meet with a number of House Republicans over the weekend, including members of the House Freedom Caucus as well as GOP legislators who want to remove the limit on deductions for state and local taxes.
Some Senate Republicans remain in favor of the two bills, including Trump’s closest supporters. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), the new chair of the Senate Budget Committee, has stated that delaying border provisions would be detrimental to national safety.
Graham said that “delaying border safety is not a good idea. If Graham got his way, border laws could be in place by mid-February.”
Johnson laid out an outline of a timeline for the reconciliation bill over the weekend. Johnson wants to pass the budget solution, which will unlock a mysterious process, in early February. The package will then be passed in the first week of April and sent to the Senate.
Florida is holding special elections for the first time on April 1st to replace Rep. Mike Waltz who will be leaving Congress to join President Trump’s Administration and Matt Gaetz who refused to swear an oath to serve in this Congress after withdrawing his candidacy as Attorney General.
The Republicans are likely to retain these seats and earn two votes that will be valuable for this high-stakes package.
Johnson said in an interview on “Sunday Morning Futures” that the bill will be on President Obama’s desk before the end of April. The date could slip to May. ”
This timeline is often considered by many to be wishful thinking.
Markwayne Mullin is a Republican Senator from Oklahoma and an ally of both Trump and Johnson. He told reporters that achieving passage before April was “very difficult.” He said that the timeframe before Memorial Day is “doable.”
He replied, “But that one will be tough.”
Mullin stated that the success or failure of the House would determine the timing, content, and the way the exercise was conducted.
He said that the House is currently a very dysfunctional and thoughtful institution. He said, “The House right now is a very thoughtful and dysfunctional institution. ”
While lawmakers debate the Two-or-One bill, some Republicans are on the sidelines and deferring to Trump their final decision.
“However President Trump wants to do it, I’m fine,” said Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), who played golf with Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance. “There are arguments on whichever way you cut it. You get an early win on the board or one big, beautiful bill. I’m sort of indifferent. I just want us to be effective.”
“He’s going to be the quarterback on it,” he said of Trump. “He’s going to make the call.”