The GOP Big Three and how Trump's agenda will pass

Skip to comments.

Posted on 12/16/2024 5:41:58 AM PST by RandFan

But the biggest conversation in town right now centers on the Republican strategy for passing DONALD TRUMP’s agenda next year, and we’re told discussions about that strategy percolated in Trump’s suite at the Army-Navy football game on Saturday.

Both Speaker MIKE JOHNSON and incoming Senate majority leader JOHN THUNE were on hand for the game. Both men are anxious to get the internal debate over next steps settled, and both know only Trump can do the settling.

Thune has been a firm proponent of a two-track approach: Use the Senate’s reconciliation process to fast-track a border-and-energy bill first, then use reconciliation again later in the year to tackle taxes. Johnson, meanwhile, showed up to the game armed with a slew of other ideas.

Johnson wasn’t trying to talk Trump out of the two-track strategy — which many of Trump’s closest aides favor — and he has made clear that he’ll execute whatever strategy Trump ultimately endorses.

But the speaker is dealing with significant angst in the House over the idea of decoupling the bills, most prominently from Ways and Means Chair JASON SMITH (R-Mo.) — and he made sure Trump was fully briefed on the risks and benefits of the various approaches, we’re told.

— The case for one bill: In short, the fear is that the politics within the razor-thin GOP House majority are too fragile to risk anything but a single-bill approach. What if conservatives, for instance, threaten to oppose any tax bill that raises SALT, the state and local tax deduction fix that blue-state Republicans are demanding? If border provisions aren’t in the bill, how can they be enticed to vote yes?

Another worry: Passing a “skinny” first reconciliation bill in the early weeks of Trump’s second term could be harder than it looks given that their majority could shrink to a single vote at the beginning of the year due to Trump tapping several House members for his administration.

— The case for two bills: On the other side of the Rotunda — and among some senior Trump advisers — annoyance is growing that this conversation is even still happening. The tax bill, they argue, is going to take months to write, and Trump wants a quick win on his signature campaign issue, pronto.

The incoming administration also wants to put its stamp on the tax bill, they argue, it will take time to not only get a Treasury secretary confirmed but also stand up the administration’s tax policy staff.

Some Trump advisers also doubt that passing a second reconciliation bill later in the year will be as difficult as some in the House are predicting. Riding high after browbeating senators into giving PETE HEGSETH’s Defense nomination a second life, Trump’s team is feeling skeptical that any Republican would dare tank Trump’s tax priorities.

— The next steps: Trump advisers feel they’ve been pretty clear about what the incoming president wants — both privately and publicly (see incoming deputy chief of staff STEPHEN MILLER endorsing the Thune plan on Fox News).

Click here: to donate by Credit Card

Or here: to donate by PayPal

Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794

Thank you very much and God bless you.

1 posted on 12/16/2024 5:41:58 AM PST by RandFan

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson