WASHINGTON — Republicans plan to craft and pass a huge party-line bill early next year in the new administration of President Donald Trump, delivering on a range of priorities from tax cuts to increased funding for immigration enforcement. I am paying attention to it as a means.
The bill would use a budget “reconciliation” process that would allow taxes and spending to be passed without requiring Democratic votes. Republican leaders are considering tightening the process by crafting a budget proposal that would set the terms of the bill in early January, even before Trump takes office, two people familiar with the move said. The story told.
Their biggest goal is to extend the 2017 Trump tax law and prevent the $3.3 trillion tax cut from expiring at the end of 2025.
But the party has even bigger goals.
Republican leaders said in interviews that the bill would give the incoming administration more resources to implement border security and “mass deportations” promised by President Trump and build on President Joe Biden’s Inflation Control Act. He said he wants to eliminate clean energy funding included in the package and use the package for the next administration. Cut other federal spending.
The reconciliation process bypasses the Senate’s 60-vote threshold for most bills, requiring only a simple majority to pass tax and spending packages once a fiscal year. Republicans received 53 votes in the Senate, allowing three people to leave the party. But the House is on track to have a paper-equal majority of 220-215, which will shrink further in the early days of the Trump administration as some Republicans leave the party to join the Trump administration. This will become a bigger challenge.
“I’m telling all of our new members and all of our returning members to prepare for a very busy first 100 days,” said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana). “We have to do many things at the same time. We walk while chewing gum.”
Deadlines must also be met to prevent a government shutdown and avoid a catastrophic default.
“It’s going to be very difficult,” said Sen. Thom Tillis (RN.C). “And the reason is, you guys have razors to spare, and obviously you’re not going to get any Democratic votes. … It’s much more complicated to get a reconciliation result in the House than in the Senate this cycle.”
Democrats are already preparing to blast the package as a giveaway to the wealthy, renewing their attacks on the Trump 2017 tax law by emphasizing tax cuts for high-income earners.
“Republicans will take actions that benefit the most fortunate and increase debt for future generations,” said Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), the new chairman of the moderate New Democratic Party Coalition. ”. “They’ve made it clear that they’re not going to look for any compromises. They’re going to have to work within their own caucus, this very narrow majority.”
Tax cuts, wall money, spending cuts, Medicaid
Early discussions within the Republican Party included a hodgepodge of conservative ideas to cram into a reconciliation bill, recognizing that a bill outside the process would require 60 Senate votes.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., said Republicans are “100%” committed to extending the Trump tax cuts, but there will be “some deviations” from current law. He has said he wants to expand the child tax credit, which House Tax Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-Missouri) unsuccessfully tried to pass into law. Mr. Smith’s plan, which combines tax cuts for households with children and a resumption of Trump-era tax cuts for businesses, passed the House earlier this year but was rejected by Senate Republicans, including Mr. Tuberville.
Incoming Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said next year’s reconciliation bill could include extending President Trump’s tax cuts, spending on border security and “freeing up America’s energy.” said.
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said the House should “immediately” pass the conservative immigration policy known as HR2 in the new Congress and push through some of the settlement provisions. He said he wanted to.
“Then we’ll take what we can’t pass in the Senate and bring it to reconciliation,” Jordan said.
Scalise said Republicans want to give Trump “funding to build a border wall” and give “more technology to Border Patrol agents” to help them do their jobs. The goal, he said, is to provide President Trump with “all the tools necessary to secure our borders.”
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said he would seek a “credible requirement for able-bodied adults” to receive federal benefits. He also called for scrutiny of “mandatory” spending outside of Social Security and Medicare to reduce the deficit.
“There’s a lot of savings opportunity here. I think it’s going to take political will,” he said. “We have to start bending the spending curve and paying down some of our debt. We also have to free up money to address our national security and the most dangerous world since World War II. ”
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) said Republicans should “do everything we can to use reconciliation to balance the budget.”
“When it comes to Medicaid, you know, I’ve always believed in block grants. I believe in block grants,” he said. “We should give states more opportunity. Then they will think about how to spend the money.”
Several Republicans, including Tuberville, said they were unsure whether the new bill would seek to extend expired Obamacare subsidies.
Republicans aim to cut Biden-era programs
There is a growing consensus among Republicans to repeal spending programs passed by Democrats during the Biden administration.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-Va.), the incoming chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee, said the Inflation Control Act is “certainly something we’ll be looking at.”
The Biden law includes a number of tax credits, including benefits for consumers to purchase electric vehicles and energy-efficient products for their homes.
“Obviously, the American people have indicated pretty loudly that they are not happy with the leadership of this last administration. And some of these trillions of dollars in donations are not good for the American economy. , will be at risk,” said Rep. Dusty Johnson (R.S.D.), who is considered a center-right pragmatist.
One of the big questions Republicans will face is how much they will pay and how much it will add to the deficit. Opinions are divided within the party, with some calling for an offset to the cost of the package and others believing the new deficit is acceptable.
Finance Committee member Tillis said he would accept increasing the budget deficit with what he considers “pro-growth” measures, but he would like to “pay for” parts of the bill that don’t fall into that category.
“There’s a lot we can take back,” Tillis said. “Democrats shouldn’t be surprised that the American Rescue Plan and the Control Inflation Act are ripe for that.”
Tillis said he was concerned that a small group of House Republicans could defeat the policy by demanding that the budget deficit not widen. Democrats are leading in California’s remaining 13th Congressional District with 214 votes.
“This is where President Trump is going to be a very important part of the process. I’ve heard more than three (in the House) say they won’t vote for a tax bill that isn’t fully offset. If that happens, we’re done,” he said. “So how do you fix it? That’s above my pay grade and out of my seat.”
Sen. Mike Rounds (R.S.D.) proposed passing two reconciliation bills next year, using next year’s options. One would involve tax cuts reflecting the agreed points, and the other would take place by the end of the year.
“Let’s make sure we get the low-hanging fruit. I think this has a lot to do with the tax extension. Whatever else we can do early on to make sure we get across the finish line quickly in a cohesive way. ” he said. “Then we can sit down and work on some areas where there may be agreement on a second settlement bill as well.”
