GOP pushes forward with vote on Trump's big bill after WH meeting
Johnson speaks to reporters as he departs for the White House Wednesday. Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
House Republican leaders said Wednesday they are moving forward with a reconciliation vote either Wednesday night or Thursday morning and that they haven't made major changes to bill text in order to accommodate the Freedom Caucus.
Driving the news: Following a meeting with President Trump at the White House, Majority Leader Steve Scalise said the plan is to issue a manager's amendment and then vote on the bill tonight.
- Speaker Mike Johnson left open the possibility of the vote being Thursday morning as well, but stressed the caucus is moving forward with a goal of voting out the package before Memorial Day recess.
- Johnson said the manager's amendment would make "minor" changes. "There's not much changing here," he said.
- He said Trump could issue executive orders as a way to try to assuage some Freedom Caucus concerns, but wouldn't elaborate.
State of play: Members of the right-wing House Freedom Caucus, some of whom attended the White House meeting, suggested a vote early Thursday morning is feasible.
- Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) told reporters that talks are "moving in the right direction" and that "we're in the very final stages of ironing things out."
- Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) said "all indications" are that a vote will happen Thursday morning — but that the right-wing group will huddle after bill text is released to take a group position on it.
Yes, but: Johnson is still dealing with several renegade "no" votes that he will need to mollify to pass the bill with his razor-thin majority.
- Rep. John Rose (R-Tenn.), who is running for Tennessee governor, said in posts on X that he is "a 'NO' on the reconciliation bill in its current form."
- Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio), a Freedom Caucus member, told reporters Wednesday night he remains opposed to the bill over its deficit impacts.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional reporting.
