Trump faces influence test at Mar-a-Lago with warring House GOP factions: ‘How do we move forward?’

President-elect Donald Trump’s winter White House is set to host a parade of House Republicans this weekend, as lawmakers from different factions converge in hopes of aligning on a conservative policy overhaul. The goal of the meetings is to get everyone on the same page and work through specific issues that may cause concerns for some members.

The incoming commander in chief’s power over Congressional Republicans will be put to the test, as he aims to bridge longstanding fractures on fiscal policy. The meetings will take place at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, where Trump will meet with members of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus, senior Republicans, House committee chairs, and lawmakers from blue states.

One of the key points of contention among Congressional Republicans is the path forward for the budget reconciliation process. This mechanism allows one party in control of the government to advance their agenda through a single bill, with a simple majority vote in the Senate. While there is broad agreement on the large goals, there are disagreements on specific issues such as border security, energy policy, defense, and tax cuts.

There is a divide among Republicans on whether to split these goals into separate bills or combine them into one. Proponents of the two-track approach believe it will allow for early victories on border and energy policies, while opponents argue that passing two bills could jeopardize Trump’s tax cuts. Additionally, there is disagreement on whether to use reconciliation to raise the cap on state and local tax deductions, a move favored by blue state Republicans.

Despite these differences, lawmakers are hopeful that the meetings with Trump will help them find common ground and deliver for the American people. Members of Congress from different factions are eager to have a dialogue with the president-elect and work towards a unified approach to the policy overhaul.

While Trump has not publicly declared the specifics of what he wants to pass via reconciliation, he has indicated a preference for a one-bill approach. However, some lawmakers believe that two bills may be more feasible. Regardless of the outcome, the discussions at Mar-a-Lago this weekend are seen as a crucial step towards achieving consensus on the conservative policy agenda.

Overall, the meetings represent an opportunity for House Republicans to engage with Trump and each other, in an effort to move forward on key issues such as border security, energy policy, defense, and tax cuts. The dialogue and collaboration among lawmakers from different factions will be essential in shaping the future of conservative policy in the coming months.