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House lawmakers are called back to Capitol Hill late Sunday evening as the deadline approaches for passing President Donald Trump’s ambitious fiscal reform proposal. Dubbed the ‘big, beautiful bill,’ the legislation faces crucial challenges just days before the anticipated vote.
Tonight’s session, scheduled for 10 p.m., will see the House Budget Committee voting on advancing this extensive legislation towards a full House vote later this week.
Plans for an initial vote on Friday were abruptly derailed by a revolt from four members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus. Representatives Chip Roy from Texas, Ralph Norman from South Carolina, Josh Brecheen from Oklahoma, and Andrew Clyde from Georgia sided with Democrats, rejecting the proposed bill.
These fiscal conservatives have raised concerns about the proposed cuts to Medicaid. Although Republicans argue that the bill only targets waste, fraud, and abuse, the mandatory work requirements for able-bodied individuals won’t take effect until 2029. Critics within the party worry that there exists a significant timeframe during which changes could be overturned.
Moreover, conservatives are advocating for a more aggressive repeal of green energy tax incentives established under the previous Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act. This stance has created tensions with other Republican lawmakers whose districts benefit from these tax provisions.
Simultaneously, GOP leaders in the House and the White House are heralding the bill as a pivotal moment for fiscal reform, calling it the most significant change in decades. During the weekend, GOP leaders anticipated further negotiations with dissenting members.
Representative Ralph Norman expressed the need for tangible progress in talks. “I need to see something in writing. We have had enough discussions. They know our position, and if we do not see substantial changes, we might stick with our previous stance,” he stated in an interview.
Discussions are ongoing, as Norman and other legislators have been invited to a meeting with House GOP leaders.
The proposed legislation must navigate complex Senate rules, reading more as a budget reconciliation bill. This process allows Congress to pass substantial legislation with a simple majority, bypassing the typical 60-vote threshold needed to overcome a filibuster.
Both the House and Senate are working with narrow margins. In fact, within the House Budget Committee, Republicans can afford to lose just two votes to move the legislation forward. Speaker Mike Johnson remains optimistic about overcoming party resistance. On a recent Fox News appearance, he indicated that the bill should reach the Rules Committee by midweek and the House floor by the week’s end, aligning with their original deadline.
Johnson noted that some compromises regarding Medicaid work requirements are essential. He mentioned ongoing talks with individual states to determine when these requirements could realistically begin.
“This represents the most significant spending cut in three decades, possibly longer,” Johnson asserted. He acknowledged the necessity for GOP leaders to be flexible in negotiations.
Norman communicated that compromises must be realistic. “If they want to implement changes in a year or sooner, we are open to discussion. But it is crucial to understand that this bill is not the ultimate solution. It is widely accepted that tax cuts are sound policy, and prioritizing phasing out unwarranted Green New Deal credits is something we support immediately,” he explained.
In response to the earlier defeat, Russell Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, reiterated his support for Trump’s legislation. Through a social media post, he argued that critics of the bill misinterpret its fiscal implications, describing it as a historic piece of legislation.
Trump has dismissed critics as grandstanders, asserting that their actions hinder the enactment of his broader policy agenda. Advocates for Trump’s initiatives, however, argue that their objective remains to fulfill the president’s original campaign promises.
“He campaigned to dismantle the Green New Deal, which many view as a flawed scheme. The current proposal delaying its phase-out for seven years is unacceptable, as it is merely extending unfunded expenditures,” Norman argued.
Economic Policy Innovation Center founder Paul Winfree remarked that several members negotiating the bill over the weekend are actively seeking improvements to ensure Trump gains optimal benefits.
The urgency of Sunday night’s parliamentary action reflects House GOP leaders’ determination. However, several obstacles must still be addressed, including differences in views regarding Medicaid reforms and the negotiations surrounding State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction caps, which are contentious among GOP members from blue states.
In the proposed legislation, the SALT deduction cap would increase from $10,000 to $30,000. Nonetheless, several Republicans from states with higher taxes view this adjustment as inadequate. Conservatives in districts leaning Republican are pressing for more substantial cuts and fiscal reductions.
Representative Nick LaLota from New York, a member of the SALT Caucus, suggested raising taxes on high earners as a means to offset the increased cap. While this approach remains contentious, some conservatives have indicated a willingness to explore such measures.
“The One Big Beautiful Bill has hit roadblocks and urgently requires fresh momentum. Allowing higher tax rates for individuals earning above $609,350 and couples earning over $731,200 could generate substantial revenue to invigorate our efforts,” LaLota tweeted.
He emphasized that this fiscally responsible strategy aligns with the new Republican Party’s priorities—supporting working families, tackling the deficit, addressing SALT cap inequities, and preserving essential programs without imposing tax hikes on the middle class.
