Senate Majority Chief John Thune is pushing for a vote on President Trump’s signature home coverage invoice subsequent week, however huge hurdles stay contained in the GOP.
SCOTT SIMON, HOST:
After all, this week has been dominated by occasions within the Center East, however at residence, President Trump presses forward along with his home agenda. Senate Majority Chief John Thune warned what’s at stake if Congress would not move the president’s large tax minimize and spending invoice.
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JOHN THUNE: If we do not take motion, American households will likely be dealing with a large tax hike beginning in 2026.
SIMON: The Senator goals for a vote this coming week, however first, he must resolve divisions amongst fellow Republicans. NPR congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh joins us. Deirdre, thanks a lot for being with us.
DEIRDRE WALSH, BYLINE: Hey, Scott.
SIMON: Remind us, please, first, how is that this invoice considerably totally different than the one the Home handed final month?
WALSH: Senate Republicans did make some modifications to the model that cleared the Home final month, however the core components of this invoice are comparable. The invoice completely extends the tax cuts for people and companies that Trump enacted again in 2017, however Republicans added some further ones – issues the president campaigned on, like no taxes on suggestions, no taxes on extra time. To pay for the tax cuts, this invoice makes vital cuts to Medicaid. That is the well being care program for low-income, aged and disabled People. It provides new work necessities and modifications the way in which states can finance their Medicaid applications. This invoice additionally phases out lots of of billions of {dollars} in clear power tax breaks that the Biden administration put into place.
SIMON: And Senate Republicans are break up on this bundle, proper? The place are a few of the divisions?
WALSH: Proper, there are a number of points. Rand Paul of Kentucky, for one, says the availability to extend the nation’s borrowing authority by $5 trillion to keep away from a default later this summer time is a nonstarter for him. Some conservatives say the invoice would not minimize sufficient spending. One other group of Republicans within the Senate oppose the Medicaid modifications. They’re nervous that a few of the modifications may trigger rural hospitals of their states to shut. There’s one other group of Senate Republicans who symbolize states the place new power initiatives are getting up and operating and producing jobs, they usually wish to delay phasing out these power tax breaks so these initiatives can transfer forward. Bear in mind, Senate Majority Chief Thune can afford to lose solely three votes to get this bundle by means of.
SIMON: And what is the Senator doing to attempt to bridge a few of the variations?
WALSH: He is relying closely on President Trump to be the nearer. White Home Chief of Employees Susie Wiles was on the Hill assembly with Senate Republicans this week, and she or he reiterated the president desires this carried out by July 4. There are discussions making tweaks to a few of the issues that I simply talked about to deal with these issues. However for individuals like John Thune, it is type of like Whac-A-Mole. If you happen to give in to moderates on Medicaid, it may influence how conservatives view the invoice by way of its spending cuts.
And no matter modifications Senate Republicans make, might want to get a majority within the Home, and there is already a gaggle of Home Republicans who’re elevating crimson flags about a few of these modifications that the Senate’s making. It is fairly clear this might slip past July 4. That is not an actual onerous deadline. The true deadline comes later this summer time when the Treasury Division warns the nation may bump up towards the debt ceiling if Congress would not authorize extra borrowing.
SIMON: Individually, the Senate, subsequent week, is anticipated to take up a decision associated to Iran, proper?
WALSH: Proper. Because the president weighs whether or not or to not take army motion towards Iranian nuclear amenities, Virginia Democratic Senator Tim Kaine is forcing a vote on a decision. That decision says the president can’t take army motion towards Iran with out first coming to Congress for a vote. Kaine says he does anticipate some Republicans to affix him, however thus far, no Republican has mentioned they’re voting for this decision. There will likely be intelligence briefings on the Hill early subsequent week on Iran, and that might actually influence the vote on this sort of decision.
SIMON: NPR’s Deirdre Walsh. Thanks a lot.
WALSH: Thanks.
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