Trump, Johnson push forward on budget resolution despite House GOP opposition

The budget resolution passed by the Senate and backed by President Trump is facing opposition from a group of House Republicans who believe it doesn’t contain enough spending cuts. The House must adopt the Senate’s resolution in order to advance the president’s agenda, but nearly a dozen House Republicans are expressing concerns about the $1.5 trillion gap between the House and Senate versions.

Speaker Mike Johnson, who holds a slim GOP majority, needs the support of just three Republicans to pass the resolution. The president met with Republican holdouts to persuade them to back the resolution, but some members were not invited to the meeting. Despite facing objections from multiple corners of the GOP conference, Johnson remains optimistic about making progress.

House leaders are prepared to work through the weekend if necessary to push the resolution through the lower chamber. President Trump has endorsed the Senate-adopted budget resolution, emphasizing the importance of securing the border, enacting spending cuts, and making tax cuts permanent.

However, many holdouts are demanding more substantial spending cuts than the proposed $1 trillion. The budget plan is the first step in the reconciliation process, allowing Congress to bypass the 60-vote threshold required for most legislation in the Senate. Disagreements over the depth and location of spending cuts have led to a delay in the reconciliation process.

While the Senate’s plan relies on a budget scoring method that assumes no cost for continuing current policies, the House resolution acknowledges the $3.8 trillion cost of extending the Trump tax cuts. House Republican leaders are continuing to push forward with the Senate-adopted plan, meeting with skeptical Republicans to address their concerns.

Despite the challenges, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise reaffirmed the GOP’s commitment to advancing the agenda. Speaker Johnson emphasized that adopting the resolution is just the beginning of the legislative process and allows them to draft the actual legislation. He described it as the kickoff to starting the game and moving forward with the agenda.

In conclusion, the House Republicans are navigating through obstacles to pass the budget resolution and advance President Trump’s priorities. The process may not be easy, but GOP leaders are determined to overcome the hurdles and move forward with the reconciliation process.