Former President Donald Trump paid a historic visit to the Capitol this week. He called on House Republicans to support the passage of his One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The legislation would deliver on many of his campaign promises and go quite a ways towards building his proposed tax cuts and immigration policies. With a slim majority in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, Trump is focusing on convincing representatives from blue states to abandon their calls for an expanded State and Local Tax (Salt) deduction.
At present, the House stands as a razor-thin three-vote Republican majority, thus every vote counts an even more significant weight than usual. House Speaker Mike Johnson has publicly announced Monday as his deadline for the bill to pass through the chamber. The proposed legislation, the INVEST in America Act, covers almost 1,100 pages and is packed with important measures. It would make Trump’s first-term tax cuts permanent or extend them, repeal tips and overtime taxes for 10 years and pay for building a wall on the southern border.
Trump was clear that above all, he wants to codify one set of victory lap campaign promises to his first go-round in the White House. He further suggested that 98% of the Republican conference is on board with the bill. At least a few notable dissenters have raised red flags regarding its implications for safety net programs.
“I think we have unbelievable unity. I think we’re going to get everything we want, and I think we’re going to have a great victory.” – Donald Trump
In addition to Trump’s support, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise held a press conference after Trump’s visit, reinforcing the importance of unifying the party behind the legislation. For their part, the Republicans are using the budget reconciliation process that lets them avoid it along with other possible Senate roadblocks, like a Democratic filibuster. This is a key strategy for getting this legislation across the finish line without major headwinds.
Not all Republicans share Trump’s enthusiasm. Congressman Mike Lawler from New York expressed reservations about the bill as currently drafted, stating, “As it stands right now, I do not support the bill.” His worries are a part of the larger fear among certain moderates and blue-state Republicans that we’re gonna see cuts to their popular safety net programs.
House Republicans continue to have an uphill battle internally as they try to appease Freedom Caucus demands while listening to the moderates in their party. Indeed, Trump has explicitly opposed raising the Salt deduction, saying it would unfairly benefit the Democratic governors. He counts uniting all Republicans among his highest priorities for getting the bill through, though. This is particularly critical with numerous interests at stake in blue states.
“We don’t want to benefit Democrat governors,” – Donald Trump
The urgency surrounding this legislation stems from multiple factors, including ongoing debates about immigration policy and funding for border security. Republicans are aiming to leverage this bill not only to extend tax cuts but to address immigration enforcement through measures like mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.
Dusty Johnson, a Republican representative who attended Trump’s meeting, noted that the former president’s message was clear: “He was emphatic; we need to quit screwing around. That was the clear message. You all have tinkered enough; it is time to land the plane.” This one sentence put ALL the pressure on these out of touch representatives to fall in line with their party leadership and demand a quick resolution.
Despite the challenges, other Republicans such as Don Bacon are attempting to negotiate terms that will satisfy both hardline conservatives and moderates hesitant about significant cuts. Bacon understood the grim situation that they were up against. He then went on to assure everyone, “We did as well as we could do.”
David Valadao, a fellow Republican member of Congress, objected on grounds that the bill would lead to cuts in Medicaid, which the bill was designed to cut. His apprehensions highlight the delicate balance Republican leaders must strike in order to secure broader support while adhering to their fiscal objectives.
With the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s deadline looming and all its brilliantly named beauty, House Republicans are quickly running out of time. How the tension between party discipline and personal priority plays out will decide if they can move this historic piece of legislation over the finish line. Trump’s influence remains a driving force in this process, as he continues to rally support among lawmakers while navigating the complexities of bipartisan interests.