On Monday, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) indicated that Republicans are nearing a consensus on President Trump’s key domestic initiatives, though he mentioned it might take another couple of days of internal talks before finalizing the agreement.
“We’re almost there. I feel quite hopeful about striking the right balance for this bill,” Johnson remarked as he arrived at the Capitol on Monday afternoon. “This will be significant for the country.”
Johnson explained that the contract Republicans intend to advance through the Rules Committee on Wednesday morning is still open for adjustments specifically referring to the GOP budget, which he labeled a “cleanup amendment.” However, he expressed optimism that his self-imposed deadline could facilitate passage through the House.
“As everyone understands around here, we need to reach a consensus on these elements, so nothing is set in stone yet,” he stated.
His leadership team is eager to secure backing from two dissenting factions, including centrist lawmakers who are advocating for a substantial increase in the state and local tax (SALT) deduction caps, currently capped at $10,000.
“We’re going to engage in a lot of discussions over the next 48 hours, and that’s all part of the process,” Johnson noted regarding these final hurdles. “That’s about all I can share.”
He dismissed recent media accounts about the negotiations, calling them “completely uninformed.”
“There’s been a lot of speculation out there,” he added.
Just before a Budget Committee meeting took place on Sunday night to discuss an early version of the proposal, Johnson expressed his desire to see the bill voted on by Thursday.
