Growing opposition from House conservatives threatens to derail Trump's agenda
Growing opposition among hard-line House conservatives to the Senate’s framework for advancing President Trump’s ambitious legislative agenda is threatening to make this week’s vote one of the heaviest lifts yet for Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).
At least 10 House Republicans have said they will vote “no” on the measure, and a handful of others have publicly criticized the resolution, creating an uphill battle for Johnson as he looks to muscle it through his razor-thin majority.
Johnson is eyeing a Wednesday vote on the Senate-approved budget resolution, which would unlock the reconciliation process that Republicans are looking to use to pass tax cuts, border funding and energy policy. The Speaker is actively urging his ranks to fall in line, and the White House has begun making calls to House Republicans, a source told The Hill.
But a mounting swell of resistance among fiscal hawks who want commitments on large spending cuts upfront is putting that plan in jeopardy.
Underscoring the discontent, Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.), the chair of the hard-line House Freedom Caucus who has sharply criticized the budget resolution, is advocating for the chamber to skip the vote altogether and move straight to crafting the details of the package — an unconventional move that would be a break from protocol. Asked about prospects of the bill passing, Harris said Monday: “It doesn’t need to. The committees can do their work without the budget resolution.”
That idea, to be sure, has no chance of being picked up by House GOP leaders. Johnson told reporters “we disagree on that” when asked about the prospect. The view of House GOP leadership is that the House can stay in the driver’s seat and secure major cuts if they pass the budget resolution and craft the details of the ultimate reconciliation legislation faster than the........
© The Hill
