Several GOP holdouts are still threatening to sink the “one big, beautiful” reconciliation bill in the House Budget Committee despite President Donald Trump calling on Republicans to stop being “grandstanders” and advance the legislation.
Trump said in a post to Truth Social that Republicans “MUST UNITE” behind the bill, which would cut $1.5 trillion to offset the cost of preserving the president’s 2017 tax break. At least four Republicans have said they will vote “no” or are unwilling to commit to supporting the bill unless significant changes are made on things such as the Medicaid work requirements’ effective date and a decision on raising the state and local taxes cap.
The president is telling those holdouts to get in line.
“We don’t need ‘GRANDSTANDERS’ in the Republican Party,” Trump wrote. “STOP TALKING, AND GET IT DONE!”
The Budget Committee is already off to a tense start, with several holdouts, including Reps. Chip Roy (R-TX) and Ralph Norman (R-SC), storming out of the hearing as Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-TX) gaveled in the meeting. They eventually returned to deliver opening arguments in which they argued the legislation falls short of what they believe the budget blueprint calls for.
Norman told reporters he thinks the Budget Committee should recess as he left the meeting after giving his opening statement, in which he said he is a “hard no.”
“If they call for a vote now, it’s not going to end well,” the South Carolina Republican said.
Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) told reporters that, unsurprisingly, the White House is now working closely with House GOP to get the bill out of committee.
“We are working on some questions that Ralph and others have, and we’re going to be getting them answers as soon as we get them back from the Trump administration,” Scalise said.
Norman and Roy said in the committee hearing Friday morning that they are against the reconciliation budget. Reps. Josh Brecheen (R-OK) and Andrew Clyde (R-GA) are noncommittal but argue that “substantive improvements are needed.”
Arrington can afford to lose two GOP votes and still pass the bill along party lines, thanks to Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) returning to Capitol Hill after being absent due to paternity leave.
Roy blasted Democrats for accusing Republicans of cutting Medicaid and giving tax breaks to billionaires, but he said he also needs to “admonish my colleagues on this side of the aisle.”
“This bill falls profoundly short,” Roy said. “It does not do what we say it does with respect to deficits.”
“We shouldn’t say that we’re doing something we’re not doing,” he added. “The fact of the matter is this bill has backloaded savings and has frontloaded spending.”
The Texas Republican said holdouts are still having conversations with leadership, but unless “serious reforms are made … you’re not going to get my support.”
BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL IN THE BALANCE: GOP FRACTURES OVER MEDICAID WORK REQUIREMENTS
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) told reporters Thursday that he is willing to work through the weekend to find a compromise, including finding provisions for a higher SALT cap and enforcing Medicaid work requirements sooner than the proposed 2029 start date. He is still confident that Republicans will be able to meet the ambitious timeline of passing the reconciliation package before Memorial Day recess.
“I’m convinced that we’ll be able to adjust the dial, so to speak, so that we can come to an agreement that will meet the criteria that everybody has and that we can move this thing forward,” Johnson said after Thursday’s meeting with Roy and other members of the Freedom and SALT caucuses.