Mark Short, former Vice President Pence's Chief of Staff, fears that Republican Conference could “dismember” if he embraces the Senate's two-track approach to dealing with taxes and borders. He said.
In an interview with NewsNation's “The Hill,” Short said that by separating border policies from tax reform, he would bring together Republicans who want to cut more spending and others who are hesitant to touch Medicaid. He said there is a risk of making it difficult. Border policies could link those Republican factions, he said.
“The more you can put it in one bill, the more you'll actually support the majority of the house because they need border funds to attach taxes to keep the meeting together.” Short said Tuesday.
“If not, I think the meeting will fall apart,” he added.
The short story was that as the first Legislative Director of the Trump White House, he worked hard to create the 2017 tax reform bill. He said in an interview that 12 House Republicans voted against the bill, with Mike Johnson (R-La.) as the prominent chief chairman. You can't afford to lose one or two votes.
“Speaker Johnson is doing a very difficult job here,” Short said before recognizing the House's budget resolution laying the foundation for Trump's legislative agenda.
The “One Big Beautiful Bill” law providing a framework for Republican priorities on tax, borders and energy was approved Tuesday evening by 217-215 votes.
The law is now heading towards the Senate, where a series of mines looms. The House must reconcile with the Senate. The Senate passed a budget resolution last week that uses a different strategy. Lawmakers will need to create Trump's agenda bill along legislative parameters and get final scales at a majority finish line like a meeting razor.
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