(Washington, July 3) U.S. President Trump met at the White House with a group of conservative lawmakers who threatened to block the passage of the tax reform bill. Some lawmakers expressed doubt that the bill could be passed for a vote before July 4.
The House leadership plans to hold a procedural vote on Wednesday (July 2) to advance the legislative process, aiming to send the bill to the president for signing into law on Friday. However, in order to win over a group of dissenters, Republican leaders delayed the vote on the tax and spending bill by several hours. These dissenters have threatened to derail the president’s core domestic agenda.
Republican Representatives Chip Roy and Ralph Norman, among others, expect the initial procedural vote to fail. Lawmakers publicly opposing the president could further strain the already tense relationship between the Republican Party and the White House.
This likely means the House will not be able to proceed to a final vote on Wednesday. If the bill is to pass, House Speaker Johnson can only afford very few defections from Republican members.
Andy Harris, the leader of the hardline House Freedom Caucus representing the far-right, expressed skepticism about whether Trump’s massive tax and spending bill could be completed by July 4. In a Wednesday interview with CNBC, he said he would vote against the bill.
Bloomberg quoted the Maryland Republican as saying: “We can take another week to get this right, and we will hold firm until the issues are resolved.”
He added, “I don’t think the bill will be ready by July 4,” and that the Senate “shouldn’t have recessed” after passing the bill.
The Senate version of the bill would result in a larger deficit for the United States compared to the House version. Members of the Freedom Caucus want to restore provisions cut by Senate moderates, but this could lead to a longer stalemate with the Senate.
Moderates also pose a challenge for Speaker Johnson. Some of them believe the Senate bill’s deep funding cuts for Medicaid providers would devastate hospitals in their districts.
The House leadership plans to hold a procedural vote on Wednesday (July 2) to advance the legislative process, aiming to send the bill to the president for signing into law on Friday. However, in order to win over a group of dissenters, Republican leaders delayed the vote on the tax and spending bill by several hours. These dissenters have threatened to derail the president’s core domestic agenda.
Republican Representatives Chip Roy and Ralph Norman, among others, expect the initial procedural vote to fail. Lawmakers publicly opposing the president could further strain the already tense relationship between the Republican Party and the White House.
This likely means the House will not be able to proceed to a final vote on Wednesday. If the bill is to pass, House Speaker Johnson can only afford very few defections from Republican members.
Andy Harris, the leader of the hardline House Freedom Caucus representing the far-right, expressed skepticism about whether Trump’s massive tax and spending bill could be completed by July 4. In a Wednesday interview with CNBC, he said he would vote against the bill.
Bloomberg quoted the Maryland Republican as saying: “We can take another week to get this right, and we will hold firm until the issues are resolved.”
He added, “I don’t think the bill will be ready by July 4,” and that the Senate “shouldn’t have recessed” after passing the bill.
The Senate version of the bill would result in a larger deficit for the United States compared to the House version. Members of the Freedom Caucus want to restore provisions cut by Senate moderates, but this could lead to a longer stalemate with the Senate.
Moderates also pose a challenge for Speaker Johnson. Some of them believe the Senate bill’s deep funding cuts for Medicaid providers would devastate hospitals in their districts.