Trump supports a huge, single bill for taxes, border, and energy
Certain Republicans have shown a preference for advancing two separate pieces of legislation rather than attempting to consolidate everything into a single bill.
TroibNews 
Incoming President Donald Trump expressed his support on Sunday for a comprehensive bill that would encompass border security, energy, and tax reforms.
“Members of Congress are getting to work on one powerful Bill that will bring our Country back, and make it greater than ever before. We must Secure our Border, Unleash American Energy, and Renew the Trump Tax Cuts,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
He emphasized the urgency, stating, “Republicans must unite, and quickly deliver these Historic Victories for the American People. Get smart, tough, and send the Bill to my desk to sign as soon as possible.”
Trump's endorsement of a single reconciliation strategy came a day after Speaker Mike Johnson informed his members that the president-elect supports this unified approach rather than pursuing two separate bills. Among those advocating for the all-in-one package was Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith, while a dual-bill strategy found support from Senate Majority Leader John Thune, some of Trump's allies in Congress, and incoming White House aide Stephen Miller.
In an interview on “Sunday Morning Futures With Maria Bartiromo,” Johnson revealed his plans to adopt a budget resolution that would outline the combined energy, border, and tax initiative in February. His target is to pass the legislation in the House by early April and aim for it to reach Trump's desk by the end of that month.
Despite Johnson’s ambitious timeline and his acknowledgment of Trump’s wishes, there is some dissent among House Republicans. Some are concerned that Johnson's description of Trump's desires might not reflect the president-elect's direct input. However, a source involved in reconciliation discussions indicated that Trump is firmly advocating for a single package, labeling it as the direction from his team throughout the weekend.
Skepticism about the one-bill strategy persists, foreshadowing potential challenges as Republicans seek the necessary near-unity to advance the reconciliation bill. Johnson did concede on Sunday that the timeline could slip into May.
In his Truth Social remarks, Trump revived a contentious issue for many congressional Republicans: using tariffs to finance the tax package. This suggestion has sparked anxiety among Senate Republicans, particularly those representing agricultural interests, who fear that tariffs could provoke foreign trade retaliation. Prominent Senate Republicans have expressed doubts about the viability of tariffs as spending offsets.
Additionally, incoming Senate Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham voiced concerns about the possibility of delaying the border component by insisting on passing everything together. Under the two-bill strategy favored by Graham, Republicans had aimed to prioritize the border and energy legislation next month.
"I'm very worried. I'm very worried that if we don't put border first and get it done, it's going to be a nightmare for our national security,” Graham stated during his appearance on “Sunday Morning Futures With Maria Bartiromo.”
Anna Muller for TROIB News
“Members of Congress are getting to work on one powerful Bill that will bring our Country back, and make it greater than ever before. We must Secure our Border, Unleash American Energy, and Renew the Trump Tax Cuts,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
He emphasized the urgency, stating, “Republicans must unite, and quickly deliver these Historic Victories for the American People. Get smart, tough, and send the Bill to my desk to sign as soon as possible.”
Trump's endorsement of a single reconciliation strategy came a day after Speaker Mike Johnson informed his members that the president-elect supports this unified approach rather than pursuing two separate bills. Among those advocating for the all-in-one package was Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith, while a dual-bill strategy found support from Senate Majority Leader John Thune, some of Trump's allies in Congress, and incoming White House aide Stephen Miller.
In an interview on “Sunday Morning Futures With Maria Bartiromo,” Johnson revealed his plans to adopt a budget resolution that would outline the combined energy, border, and tax initiative in February. His target is to pass the legislation in the House by early April and aim for it to reach Trump's desk by the end of that month.
Despite Johnson’s ambitious timeline and his acknowledgment of Trump’s wishes, there is some dissent among House Republicans. Some are concerned that Johnson's description of Trump's desires might not reflect the president-elect's direct input. However, a source involved in reconciliation discussions indicated that Trump is firmly advocating for a single package, labeling it as the direction from his team throughout the weekend.
Skepticism about the one-bill strategy persists, foreshadowing potential challenges as Republicans seek the necessary near-unity to advance the reconciliation bill. Johnson did concede on Sunday that the timeline could slip into May.
In his Truth Social remarks, Trump revived a contentious issue for many congressional Republicans: using tariffs to finance the tax package. This suggestion has sparked anxiety among Senate Republicans, particularly those representing agricultural interests, who fear that tariffs could provoke foreign trade retaliation. Prominent Senate Republicans have expressed doubts about the viability of tariffs as spending offsets.
Additionally, incoming Senate Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham voiced concerns about the possibility of delaying the border component by insisting on passing everything together. Under the two-bill strategy favored by Graham, Republicans had aimed to prioritize the border and energy legislation next month.
"I'm very worried. I'm very worried that if we don't put border first and get it done, it's going to be a nightmare for our national security,” Graham stated during his appearance on “Sunday Morning Futures With Maria Bartiromo.”
Anna Muller for TROIB News
