Republicans who are pledging to withhold support for President-elect Trump’s ambitious agenda if the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap is not raised are set to meet with the incoming president this weekend.

“I've been very clear from the start, I will not support a tax bill that does not lift the cap on SALT,” Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) told reporters earlier in the week.

Republicans are plotting to push Trump’s tax, energy and border priorities through a special party-line “reconciliation” process that bypasses the need to get Democratic buy-in but can only be used once or twice in a year.

In the razor-thin House GOP majority, opposition from a handful of SALT Caucus members could hold up the major bill.

But the push to lift the cap on SALT — an expensive tax deduction that's popular among wealthier taxpayers in several higher tax states — is facing pushback from the other end of the ideological spectrum in the GOP, where fiscal hawks warn about the budgetary impacts.

“SALT is a factor in determining whether you can get to a deficit reduction,” said Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), a member of the Freedom Caucus. “I think we need overall deficit reduction. That’s my priority.”

One Republican who will be in attendance at the Saturday meeting told The Hill that a lot of attention will be placed on the SALT deduction cap, but blue state Republicans will be looking at how the total tax package and how other variables will impact blue states. The alternative minimum tax and a version of the SALT cap for corporations will also be important.

Trump, eager to see his agenda enacted as quickly as possible, is huddling with members from across the House GOP this weekend as they hash out conflicting priorities. He met with members of the Freedom Caucus on Friday and will meet with other caucus leaders........

© The Hill