House Republicans are moving forward with a planned vote on the Senate-approved GOP budget blueprint set for Wednesday, despite facing significant opposition from some members within their ranks. Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, is working closely with former President Donald Trump to persuade approximately a dozen GOP holdouts to support the legislation. Currently, GOP leaders do not have sufficient votes to ensure passage of the bill.
In order to successfully pass the budget blueprint, Speaker Johnson can only afford to lose three votes if all members are present. Several GOP hard-liners from the House Freedom Caucus have expressed their intent to vote against the bill, citing concerns regarding its impact on deficit reduction. Despite this, Johnson remains optimistic, stating, "I think it's going to pass today," and emphasizing that Trump is eager to assist in this effort.
Johnson acknowledged the concerns raised by the holdouts regarding the Senate-approved measure, affirming the importance of delivering a significant legislative package. "We have one very important mission, and that is to deliver the one big, beautiful bill that is going to get this economy going again and solve these other problems," he concluded.
If Johnson successfully navigates the complexities of passing the legislation through the House, it would represent a major victory for Trump. Early Wednesday, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, urging Republicans to prioritize the passage of the budget blueprint, stating, "It is more important now than ever that we pass THE ONE, BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL. The USA will soar like never before!!!"
The House is scheduled to hold a vote at 3:30 p.m. on a procedural rule to advance the legislation that includes the budget blueprint. This vote will serve as a crucial test for Republican unity. If the rule vote is successful, a final vote on the budget blueprint is set for 5:30 p.m., requiring only a simple majority to pass.
Trump met with Speaker Johnson and several GOP hard-liners on Tuesday afternoon in the Oval Office to address their concerns about the bill. However, Reps. Ralph Norman from South Carolina and Tim Burchett from Tennessee, two representatives likely to vote against the measure, reported that they were not included in the discussions. Following the meeting, Trump shared his optimism, stating it was a "very good meeting," and reiterated his commitment to significant spending cuts.
"I let them know that I AM FOR MAJOR SPENDING CUTS! WE ARE GOING TO DO REDUCTIONS, hopefully in excess of $1 Trillion Dollars," he posted on Tuesday night. He emphasized the need for immediate approval of the bill to initiate these cuts.
While Johnson expressed confidence that the meeting with Trump was productive, some members, like Rep. Chip Roy from Texas, remain skeptical. Roy has voiced concerns that the budget blueprint does not adequately address the issues, stating, "The Senate's bill does not add up - it's all tax cuts with no spending cuts which = deficits." He indicated that he and other members might vote against the resolution.
Trump made a final appeal to House Republicans during his address at the National Republican Congressional Committee's black-tie dinner on Tuesday night, urging them to rally behind the bill. "Just in case there are a couple of Republicans out there, you just got to get there," he said. "Close your eyes and get there. It's a phenomenal bill. Stop grandstanding."
The coming hours will be pivotal for House Republicans as they navigate internal divisions and work to secure the necessary votes to advance the GOP budget blueprint, which aims to reshape the nation’s fiscal landscape.
