A handful of Republicans withholding support for a GOP budget resolution changed their minds after meeting with President Donald Trump on Tuesday, but not enough movement to secure passage in the House.
Before the White House meeting, at least 30 House Republicans were standing firm against the Trump-backed budget resolution coming back from the Senate because it didn’t go far enough with spending cuts.
HOUSE GOP BUDGET IS IN DANGER AS HOLDOUTS DISMISS TRUMP’S OUTREACH
While many holdouts were not invited to the meeting, several who did attend said they would flip their vote after talking with Trump, including Reps. Greg Stuebe (R-FL) and Ron Estes (R-KS), whose offices confirmed their support to the Washington Examiner. Others whose votes were locked in after the meeting included Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL).
“All I’ve heard is Greg and I think Estes, that’s two,” Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) told reporters after the meeting.
“I don’t think it’ll pass from what I’m hearing,” he continued.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) still needs to convince others. He can lose only three votes to pass the legislation along party lines. Democrats have overwhelmingly rejected the budget blueprint because of the potential it has to cut funding for the Medicaid healthcare program, which they want to protect.
Johnson expressed optimism after the White House meeting that Trump changed minds.
“We had a lot of members whose questions were answered, and I think we’re moving, making great progress right now,” Johnson told reporters as he arrived back in the Capitol, adding that he thinks a vote could come “this week.”
RON JOHNSON URGES HOUSE REPUBLICANS TO ‘HOLD OFF’ PASSING TRUMP BUDGET PLAN
Norman, who sits on the Rules Committee, told reporters Tuesday morning he was not invited to the White House, even though he is against the bill. Reps. Tim Burchett (R-TN) and Keith Self (R-TX), other holdouts, also said they were not included in the meeting with the president.
Johnson, who also attended the White House meeting, had wanted to vote on the budget resolution on Wednesday, but that schedule appears to be in jeopardy after the House Rules Committee will not meet on Tuesday to tee up the vote. Lawmakers were slated to go on a two-week recess starting Thursday, although many Republican holdouts warn against forcing a vote when they do not have the support.
Trump has pushed for swift passage of the resolution because it will begin the process, known as budget reconciliation, to pass his agenda in Congress. The so-called one big beautiful bill is to include an extension of Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and border and energy priorities.
At a dinner later Tuesday evening with House Republicans, Trump implored Congress to pass the budget legislation now.
“Get the damn thing done and stop showboating,” Trump said at the National Republican Congressional Committee event.
LAWMAKERS LOOK TO STOP TICKET SCALPERS WITH NEW HOUSE BILL
Trump won’t get any help from Democrats, with House Democratic leaders calling for “maximum attendance” from their ranks to defeat the bill.
One Democratic absence is already anticipated after Rep. Donald Norcross (D-NJ) was hospitalized due to a medical event related to his gallbladder. He is now in intensive care in New Jersey. There are two other Democratic absences following the recent deaths of Reps. Sylvester Turner and Raul Grijalva.
