Washington (AP) – Just a few days ago, Republicans announced their expansive tax cut strategy, led by a key committee whose chair consulted one individual at the end. He visited the White House, where he and President Donald Trump reviewed the legislation “line by line.”
“He was very pleased with the package we presented,” stated Rep. Jason Smith, a Republican from Missouri.
Trump had every reason to be satisfied. His influence was evident from the start and culminated in a bill that progressed through the House— “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
The proposed law aims to fulfill many of Trump’s campaign promises, including temporarily eliminating taxes on overtime and tips for numerous workers, introducing new tax breaks of $10,000 on interest for American-made car loans, and establishing “MAGA accounts” that provide $1,000 for each child in their second year.
The legislative outline, inspired by Trump, not only reflects several years of work but also demonstrates significant presidential influence over Republicans amid challenging political dynamics. Most ballots often struggle to reach a consensus without Trump’s involvement.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has been in constant contact with Trump throughout negotiations, including during his recent trip abroad.
“He’s enthusiastic about our progress,” Johnson noted. “I’ve kept him updated on developments, and he’s been busy in the Middle East. Everything is going well on our end.”
The Republican plan spans a staggering 1,116 pages, proposing over $5 trillion in tax cuts, partially offset by spending reductions elsewhere, alongside various tax law adjustments. The legislation aims to make tax cuts from Trump’s first term permanent while reducing funding for initiatives such as food assistance, university support, and environmental protections.
As discussions on the bill advanced, divisions began to surface among Republicans, particularly among fiscal conservatives concerned about the federal deficit versus those focused on the impacts of domestic cuts.
Votes of “yes” are often hard to come by when Trump is directly involved.
“President Trump actively inquired: ‘Are there members you want me to call? Is there anyone you’d like to discuss this with?'” House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-LA, remarked. “He was extremely practical and helpful in getting the bill to where it currently stands.”
Trump’s involvement is seen as crucial for Johnson’s efforts to pass the tax package through the House by the target deadline.
Conservatives delayed proceedings on Friday, insisting that the tax package not advance from the House Budget Committee until it included expedited Medicaid reforms and the complete elimination of Green Energy Credits from the Biden era. They committed to holding it back until their stipulations were addressed.
Trump exerted pressure even before the small gavels dropped during the unsuccessful committee vote.
“There’s no need for a ‘global stand’ in the Republican Party,” Trump declared on social media. “Stop talking and get it done!”
The Budget Committee is expected to reconvene late Sunday night, hoping for a breakthrough, which may extend into the weekend.
Rep. Mike Rogers, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, predicted that once Trump returned from the Middle East and began contacting skeptical lawmakers, the tax package would successfully cross the finish line.
“You might have noticed he enjoys making calls,” Rogers commented.
Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett added that close cooperation with Republican leaders contrasts sharply with Trump’s first term when many personal and corporate tax credits were swiftly enacted. Back in late 2017, Republicans assembled that tax package as part of a tragic attempt to fulfill campaign promises to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, often referred to as Obamacare.
Currently, White House staff maintain frequent communication with GOP lawmakers as tax legislation takes shape, emphasizing initiatives to amend and provisions they wish to introduce or scale back.
“We’re more focused on guiding the development than we were the first time,” Scalise remarked, noting that he and the 2017 Congress leaders lacked direct communication. “He didn’t necessarily prefer healthcare to be first, but that’s how it turned out. This time, we’ve engaged in extensive dialogue beforehand to ensure alignment.”
Trump first began mapping out the GOP’s current legislative strategy in January, suggesting via social media that Republicans should pursue “one powerful bill” addressing all party priorities instead of splitting their agenda into multiple packages.
However, Senate Republicans urged a different strategy, advocating for quick passage of the bill to allocate billions for Pentagon initiatives and Trump’s immigration policies, arguing that a second tax package could be deferred.
Trump hesitated momentarily, considering that approach might send mixed signals to Republicans on Capitol Hill. Ultimately, his initial preference for a single comprehensive bill prevailed, as House Republicans argued eliminating the option was unfeasible.
Democrats are uniformly opposed to the package, but if Republicans remain united, they wield little power to prevent it from becoming law. As they continue to navigate the fallout from last year’s electoral losses, Democrats are working to rally public opposition against the bill, denouncing it as a lucrative benefit for the wealthy at the expense of healthcare and other social services.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash, labeled it “one big, beautiful betrayal.”
Meanwhile, Republicans are eager to prioritize delivering the tax package to the Senate, aiming to have it on Trump’s desk by July 4th.
Burchett mentioned that “everyone is putting in the right effort” within the details but added that Republicans will begin to “come to the table” once Trump is fully engaged.
“It’s like an NBA game right now,” Burchett quipped. “Don’t watch until the last two minutes—tune in then!”
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Associated Press writer Kevin Freaking contributed.
Source: apnews.com