This morning presents a significant domestic hurdle for President Donald Trump’s second term. The pressing question is whether he can persuade skeptical House Republicans to back the so-called “big and beautiful bill.”
Currently, it’s uncertain if the bill has the votes to pass. House Speaker Mike Johnson, representing Louisiana, hopes to push for a vote before members break for Memorial Day.
When House GOP ‘nighthawks’ attempt to support Trump’s “big and beautiful bill”
State and local tax incentives, often referred to as SALT, along with Medicaid work requirements, are key sticking points. They’re asking states to take on additional medical costs, which is a concern.
It’s all about the numbers, really. House Republicans can only afford to lose three members and still pass the bill.
Johnson is aiming for a vote possibly as soon as tomorrow.
Trump visits Capitol Hill to advocate for “big, beautiful bills”
The House Rules Committee plans to convene at 1 a.m. on Wednesday to start organizing the floor proceedings. There are several reasons for this approach, so let’s break it down.
The Budget Committee wrapped up its work just before midnight on Sunday. According to the rules, Democrats can submit their papers and perspectives for two days following that meeting. This meant they could take the entire day off on Monday and Tuesday. The Rules Committee requires “time” to make the formal meeting announcement, meaning the “official” notice of the Wednesday meeting will come right after 12:01 a.m. ET. The meeting is set for 1 a.m. Wednesday.
Additionally, there are practical considerations to keep in mind. Republicans always need to gather support wherever possible. There’s some chatter about possibly voting on Wednesday instead. I’m curious to see if that happens. The initial timing of the Rules Committee meeting could allow for that.
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Another factor is that the Rules Committee meeting might take all day Wednesday. Members from both parties are likely to present various amendments, which tends to prolong the process.
However, an early morning meeting at 1 a.m. could also mean lower attendance. After all, who wants to be up at that hour discussing revisions at 6:30 a.m.? You get the picture.
We’re hoping Trump meets with Republicans for about an hour and a half this morning to see if he can really sway opinions.
