DORAL, Fla. — Home Republicans have been brimming with optimism after President Donald Trump’s speech at their annual retreat on Monday night, the place the brand new commander-in-chief detailed his coverage targets for a busy first 100 days of the brand new administration.
Trump’s speech, which ran simply over an hour, lined a variety of points, from post-election unity to his wishlist for Republicans’ conservative coverage overhaul through the finances reconciliation course of.
“It was enjoyable, you already know? I imply, for those who’re a Republican, Trump made politics enjoyable once more,” Home Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., informed Fox Information Digital. “I imply, it has been a unprecedented week. There is a blizzard of govt orders and actions. It is truly pushed Congress on some motion.”
Rep. Mike Haridopolos, R-Fla., a first-term member of Congress, was buoyant when approached by Fox Information Digital on the primary night time of his first Home GOP points convention, an annual Republican occasion.
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“That is precisely why we ran for workplace, to show round this nation as shortly as potential. And that the president was in full kind tonight. And I am so excited to be part of this alteration,” Haridopolos mentioned. “You might really feel the vitality within the room, and I feel persons are very excited to get this agenda by, and extra importantly, see the outcomes.”
It comes as Republicans negotiate on learn how to use their razor-thin majorities within the Home and Senate to move large conservative coverage adjustments by finances reconciliation.
By decreasing the brink for Senate passage from 60 votes to a 51-seat easy majority, reconciliation permits a celebration accountable for each congressional chambers to enact sweeping adjustments, offered they’re related to budgetary and monetary coverage.
There was some disagreement for weeks over learn how to bundle the GOP’s priorities, nevertheless. Senate Republicans have pushed for breaking the bundle up into two payments with a purpose to rating early victories on border safety and vitality coverage, whereas leaving the extra advanced concern of tax reform for a second invoice.
Home Republican leaders, nevertheless, are involved that the heavy political carry that passing a reconciliation invoice entails would imply lawmakers run out of time earlier than they’ll lengthen Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, which expire on the finish of this yr.
Trump, who beforehand mentioned he favors “one huge, lovely invoice,” was noncommittal on the strategy throughout his speech.
“Whether or not it is one invoice, two payments, I do not care,” he mentioned.
He was extra particular about what insurance policies he wished to see handed, nevertheless, together with extra funding for border safety, completely extending his 2017 tax cuts, and ending taxation for suggestions, Social Safety advantages, and time beyond regulation pay. Trump additionally has vowed to finish inexperienced vitality insurance policies in favor of bolstering the fossil gas sector.
Cole mentioned he was involved concerning the enhance in federal spending that a few of Trump’s particular coverage targets would entail, however conceded the president was doubtless talking in generalities.
“I feel Trump, when he thinks about this stuff, he is fascinated about simply the common particular person and what a burden it’s on them,” Cole mentioned.
Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., one in every of three Home Republicans who gained in a district that voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris in November, praised Trump’s speech as “unifying” however shared issues with Trump’s broad-brush strategy.
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“I assumed that message is fairly unifying. I do. I feel generally the execution will get all messy,” Bacon mentioned.
“Whereas I used to be in there, I had a businessman from Omaha that does wind vitality, and he is fearful about what meaning. So I feel it…may very well be somewhat extra focused. Typically I feel individuals on the periphery are scared that their enterprise might be impacted.”
However Nationwide Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chairman Richard Hudson, R-N.C., who’s tasked with main Republicans by the 2026 midterm elections, mentioned leaders would hash out specifics as wanted whereas crediting Trump with bringing the GOP collectively.
“We’ll see how the main points shake out in these couple of days. However what I assumed was nice is he saved coming again to his theme – if all Republicans stick collectively, we will be profitable. And I assumed that was an excellent message for all members,” Hudson mentioned.
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., in the meantime, mentioned she was “very completely satisfied to listen to” Trump name for a decrease tax fee for brand new home manufacturing, significantly in relation to prescribed drugs.
It is a difficulty she hopes Republicans will sort out of their reconciliation course of.
“It was essential that President Trump confused unity as we enter the timeframe for drafting and passing reconciliation, extending the tax bundle,” Malliotakis mentioned.
And Rep. Nathaniel Moran, R-Texas, additionally praised Trump’s speech whereas dismissing issues about his lack of dedication towards a one or two reconciliation invoice technique.
“He is a results-oriented man, and everyone knows that. And what we have to do is no matter is important to get the outcomes for the American individuals and put his insurance policies in place,” Moran mentioned.
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