Speaker Johnson courts GOP factions to pass Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has been working tirelessly this week to address concerns within the House GOP ahead of a crucial vote on President Donald Trump’s comprehensive bill. Managing a slim House majority is a challenging task, especially when navigating issues related to tax, immigration, energy, defense, and the debt limit. As various factions within the Republican Conference voice their opinions, Johnson has been meeting with key players to find common ground.

One of the primary factions causing concern is the House Freedom Caucus and their allies. These conservative fiscal hawks are advocating for more significant cuts to Medicaid’s ACA expansion and earlier implementation of work requirements for able-bodied Americans on government healthcare programs. While there is a general consensus on the need for work requirements, some moderate GOP lawmakers are hesitant about cutting deeply into the Obamacare-era expanded population. The conservatives argue that their goal is to restructure the program to better serve vulnerable individuals in need, such as low-income women and children.

Additionally, the House Freedom Caucus is pushing for a complete repeal of President Joe Biden’s green energy tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). This stance has caused tension with Republicans whose districts benefit from those subsidies. They argue that these subsidies distort the energy sector and jeopardize national security.

Moderate Republicans from states like California, New York, and New Jersey are advocating for raising the cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions. They argue that this is essential for residents in high-cost-of-living areas and that failing to address it could jeopardize the GOP’s majority in the upcoming midterms. On the other hand, Republicans from lower-tax, GOP-controlled states view this as an unwarranted reward for high-tax Democratic states.

There is also a group of Republicans in swing districts in states like Arizona and Pennsylvania who are seeking more modest cuts to the IRA. They argue that upending tax credits now would harm businesses in their districts that have already adjusted their operations to benefit from these tax breaks. In contrast, conservative fiscal hawks believe that maintaining these subsidies undermines America’s energy dominance and national security.

As these factions within the House GOP continue to voice their concerns and push for their priorities, Speaker Mike Johnson is tasked with finding common ground and securing support for President Trump’s bill. The delicate balancing act of managing these different interests highlights the complexities of governing with a narrow majority in the House of Representatives.