Anxious Republicans demand action from House leaders as GOP retreat ends without budget plan

The House GOP’s annual retreat in Doral, Fla. has come to a close with little progress made on Republicans’ budget reconciliation plans, leaving some lawmakers feeling anxious about falling behind schedule. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene expressed her frustration on Wednesday morning, stating that no plan had been presented by Speaker Mike Johnson and his team after two days of meetings.

The budget reconciliation process is crucial for Republicans to pass a conservative policy overhaul, as it lowers the Senate voting threshold from 60 to 51. However, as the retreat concluded, there was still no clear blueprint or topline numbers presented to guide the committees in their work towards fiscal policy changes.

Speaker Johnson assured reporters that a blueprint would be prepared before the end of the retreat, emphasizing the need for flexibility in the instructions given to the committees. He highlighted the importance of addressing the $36 trillion federal debt and ensuring that any actions taken are deficit-neutral or deficit-reducing.

Despite the productive meetings and discussions that took place during the retreat, many lawmakers left feeling uncertain about the next steps. Some expressed frustration at the lack of specific directives from House leaders, while others stressed the need for leadership to take their input seriously.

As lawmakers departed from President Trump’s golf resort in Doral, Florida, there was a sense of urgency for leadership to make a decisive move and start executing a plan. Johnson remained confident that the House Budget Committee would have a blueprint to work from upon their return to Capitol Hill next week, with plans to vote on it by late February.

Overall, the House GOP retreat concluded without a clear roadmap for budget reconciliation, leaving lawmakers eager for leadership to take decisive action. With the federal debt looming large, the pressure is on for Republicans to come up with a plan that addresses fiscal concerns while advancing conservative policy goals.