House Republicans Divided Over Trump's Tax and Spending Bill

President Donald Trump has summoned a mix of conservative and moderate House Republicans to the White House on Wednesday. This move comes as a faction of House Republicans threatens to block the administration’s tax and spending package unless significant changes are made. The legislation, referred to by Trump as the “big, beautiful bill,” is at the center of an internal battle within the Republican Party. Most GOP lawmakers had initially fallen in line after a White House pressure campaign, but the recent opposition from some members puts the president’s timeline to pass the legislation in jeopardy before the July 4 holiday.

Members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus were among the first to join the opposition. Representative Ralph Norman of South Carolina, who voted against the procedural rule in committee early Wednesday, confirmed he was heading to the White House along with other Freedom Caucus members. The group has issues with the Senate’s version of the bill, which they claim deviates from the spending offsets previously agreed upon in the House. Chairman Andy Harris of Maryland told reporters that without revisions, the group would oppose the procedural vote needed to advance the bill to debate. Harris was not in support of the Senate’s decision to adjourn, adding that President Trump had asked lawmakers to stay put in Washington until the legislation was resolved. Despite their objections, Republican leadership has been reluctant to make any revisions to the Senate-passed bill, with GOP sources indicating that the proposed law has some compromises but is more similar to the version the House previously approved. Harris insisted that he would not fall in line with the White House pressure, saying, “The White House doesn’t have a voting card.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson met with a group of conservative lawmakers Wednesday morning, including several Freedom Caucus members. Heading into the meeting, he told reporters, “We gotta get this done.” After more than 40 minutes, Johnson described the session as “productive” but declined to confirm if the House would proceed with the vote as scheduled. “We’ll see,” he said. Norman rejected any promises of future reforms, stating, “The best thing is to send the bill back to the Senate. I’m done with promises… it’s what the president wants.” Moderate Republicans like Representatives Mike Lawler of New York, David Valadao of California, and Dan Newhouse of Washington were seen entering the West Wing Wednesday morning. These centrists are uneasy about proposed Medicaid cuts and the rollback of green energy tax credits, policies that could directly impact their districts. Over the weekend, Valadao, whose district in California is dependent on Medicaid, reckoned that he could not support a final version that slashes provider taxes and funding that is imperative to the state’s hospitals. “I support the reasonable provisions in H.R. 1… but I will not support a final bill that eliminates vital funding streams,” he said in a Saturday statement. He reminded his colleagues that Trump had fronted the idea of eliminating waste and fraud, without harming Medicaid. Valadao and Newhouse are the only two House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump following the January 6 Capitol riot, and are against the tax and spending bill.

The internal party revolt highlights the challenges Trump faces in pushing through his agenda. The president's governing style, which involves direct engagement with legislators to secure their support, has led to friction within the party. The White House meeting is a critical juncture in Trump's efforts to navigate these challenges and advance his legislative priorities. The outcome of the White House meeting and the subsequent votes on the budget bill will be crucial in shaping the political dynamics in the coming months. The political landscape is fraught with tension as Trump seeks to consolidate support for his budget bill. The internal party revolt and the Democratic opposition pose significant hurdles for the president. However, Trump's direct engagement with Republican lawmakers and his strategic efforts to address their concerns demonstrate his determination to push through his agenda despite the obstacles.