Trump’s big, beautiful standoff: Freedom Caucus heads to White House to strike deal
The conservative House Freedom Caucus is pushing back against House GOP leaders’ plans to vote on President Donald Trump’s “one big, beautiful bill” this week. The group is set to meet with House Speaker Mike Johnson at the White House in an effort to address differences on the massive piece of legislation.
House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris expressed doubt that the bill could be passed this week, citing a short runway for negotiations. Rep. Scott Perry revealed that the group had accepted an offer from the White House, though the details of the offer were not yet included in the proposed legislation.
A source within the House Freedom Caucus disclosed that the speaker was still considering the agreement, while lawmakers refrained from revealing specifics. However, a White House official denied the existence of a deal, stating that the administration had presented policy options to the group.
House conservatives have been advocating for more significant cuts to Medicaid, particularly for the expanded population under the Affordable Care Act, and a complete repeal of former President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act and its green energy subsidies. The group has been accused of moving the goalposts from their initial demand for $1.5 trillion in spending cuts to offset new expenditures in the bill.
Negotiations between the House Freedom Caucus and House GOP leaders have hit a roadblock, according to Reps. Chip Roy and Ralph Norman. Disagreements persist over issues such as blue state Republicans’ push to increase state and local tax deductions, stricter work requirements for Medicaid, and the repeal of green energy subsidies.
The House Rules Committee has been deliberating on the bill since early Wednesday morning, with discussions expected to continue throughout the day. While committee members Roy and Norman have expressed concerns, the Republican majority is likely to advance the bill.
House Republicans aim to pass Trump’s policies on various fronts through a comprehensive bill using the budget reconciliation process. This method allows for a lower threshold in the Senate, bypassing Democratic opposition. The goal is to pass the bill through both chambers by the Fourth of July.
Despite the challenges and disagreements within the GOP, efforts are underway to advance the legislation and enact Trump’s agenda. Elizabeth Elkind, a politics reporter covering the House of Representatives, is closely monitoring developments and providing updates on the ongoing negotiations. Follow her on Twitter @liz_elkind for the latest updates and insights.
