President-elect Trump pointed to the strategic benefit of the single bill Budget reconciliation approach He said he favored it during a closed-door meeting with Republican senators Wednesday evening at the Capitol.
By combining relevant legislation Both from the southern border Crisis and Taxes In one reconciliation bill, Trump suggested that one issue could force some lawmakers to make a difficult decision. For example, if Republicans don't support part of the tax component, they would also have to vote against the border provisions because they are in one measure.
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Trump explained a strategic element to his reconciliation approach. (Getty Images)
With parts of Trump The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 It is scheduled to end this year, and the party is looking to move quickly. But the debate over taxes in 2025 is expected to be more divided among Republicans than on borders. In particular, there is some disagreement in the party over state and local tax cuts (SALT), which can benefit some states more than others, and have been viewed by some Republicans as ineffective.
“If someone, for example, in the House were to balk because there was no salt in the tax treaty or some other provision they wanted, if that also meant they were going to hold out and vote against the limits, that could make it more difficult for them.” To do that,” Sen. John Hoeven, R.N.D., told Fox News Digital. “That's a very valid point.”
While Trump himself did not bring up SALT as an example, Hoeven said, one GOP senator mentioned it in a side conversation among other attendees as they weighed the merits of the one-bill approach.
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Sen. John Hoeven, R.N.D., speaks May 4, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Hoeven faces a defector from his party and a low-fund Democrat on Tuesday, November 8, in his race for a third term in the US Senate from North Dakota. (AP Photo/Maryam Zohaib, File)
A source familiar with the matter told Fox News that Republicans are preparing for Trump to favor one bill, but are also keeping the possibility of two bills, one on the border and one to address taxes, in their back pocket in the event of any major problem. Obstacles.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune told Trump that if one bill was what he wanted, that's what they would try first, the source said.
A number of senators have their own preferences for two separate reconciliation bills instead, and some made their case to Trump during the meeting. However, the conference is set to move forward with Trump's one-bill approach.
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One senator said Thune was “adamant” in supporting Trump's agenda as leader. (Reuters)
Greenland, Canada and the Panama Canal were brought up during the discussion after Trump's comments about each. Trump recently said he wants the United States to regain control of the important trade vehicle, the Panama Canal, while also expressing interest in making Greenland and Canada part of the United States.
Informed sources told Fox News that Trump raised these matters himself during the meeting, and at one point told senators that these countries were “manipulating” the United States.
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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with media outside Rideau Cottage on Monday, January 6 in Ottawa. (AP/Adrian Wilde/The Canadian Press)
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Several GOP senators took the opportunity to tell Trump that his comments on Canada were “transformational,” the sources said.
The sources added that senators believe his approach toward Canada has already succeeded in changing the country's “behavior” and may have contributed to the recent resignation of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
