Republican-led House committees will tomorrow begin marking up the massive reconciliation package that GOP leadership hopes to pass in a party-line vote before Memorial Day. The package covers the bulk of President Donald Trump’s tax, border security, and energy agenda and is likely to include a roughly four trillion-dollar hike to the federal debt limit.
- For the first time, House Republicans will ink out the specifics of huge cuts to government services they outlined in broad strokes in their budget blueprint. The cuts, including USD$880 billion from the Department of Commerce, are likely to include major reforms to safety net programmes like Medicaid.
- So far, House Republican leadership has defied expectations, forcing a series of votes through a razor-thin majority despite warnings from conservatives over deficit spending in the reconciliation bill.
- This month’s mark-ups will be a more difficult lift for leadership. House Republican cuts are likely to go beyond what is palatable for House moderates and Senate Republicans and come as Trump’s sinking approval rating flashes warning signs for frontline Republicans.
- The Treasury Department is expected to send Congress its formal projection for the so-called X-date this week. As the reconciliation package includes a debt limit hike, the X-date will provide a hard backstop for getting the package through Congress.
- House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) will meet Trump at the White House at 14:00 ET 19:00 BST to discuss reconciliation. The pair may discuss the prospect of a millionaire tax as a revenue source.