WASHINGTON – House Republican leaders returned from a meeting at the White House optimistic that they could hold a final vote on President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax and policy package, perhaps as early as this evening.
But that may be wishful thinking on the most important piece of legislation in Trump’s second term, where competing GOP factions are making it difficult for the president’s party to find a majority of votes. Multiple House GOP lawmakers said May 21 that they still would not support the package as a group of fiscally conservative members push for continued spending cuts.
“I think we’re in a very good place. I think that all of our colleagues here will really like this final product, and I think we’re going to move forward,” Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, told reporters as he returned to the U.S. Capitol from the meeting at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
More: Medicaid, SNAP, tax cuts: What’s in the Trump bill lawmakers aim to pass this week
Republican leaders plan to present a few small changes to the House bill during the evening of May 21, and then they will decide whether to hold the vote later tonight or tomorrow morning, Johnson said.
The speaker did not say what had been agreed to, or even that the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus members are now on board after raising concerns about the legislation earlier in the day.
“I think we can resolve their concerns,” Johnson said.
Even Republican members who hadn’t raised concerns before were bringing them up as Trump’s White House tried to help broker a final deal.
“Raising the SALT deduction is a bailout for Democrat Governors—paid for by red states with low taxes,” Rep. John Rose, R-Tennessee, wrote on X. “Tennesseans should not foot the bill for New York and California’s mismanagement.”
That’s a reference to a tentative agreement to raise a state and local tax deduction cap to bring a group of blue state Republicans on board – illustrating how each new concession may create problems with another part of the conference.
In a positive sign for Trump and Johnson, some members of the Freedom Caucus who had been brought to the White House appeared more positive afterward.
Freedom Caucus Chair Rep. Andy Harris, R-Maryland, said the meeting “went well” and the group “made some progress.” Rep. Clay Higgins, R-Louisiana, said the group feels “pretty positive” about the direction of negotiations.
Lawmakers have been trying to advance a sweeping bill that would extend tax cuts, implement new tax cuts for tips and overtime, put more money into border security and defense, and add new restrictions to benefit programs like Medicaid and food stamps.
The legislation also includes a debt ceiling hike of $4 trillion, a crucial provision that must pass before August in order to avoid a potentially catastrophic default on the national debt.
(This story has been updated with more information.)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: House speaker confident on Trump tax bill but vote still uncertain
