Johnson again relying on Trump to bring GOP holdouts in line on budget plan
Speaker Mike Johnson met Tuesday at the White House with President Donald Trump and House Republicans holding out against voting for the Senate-approved budget bill to fund Trump's agenda.
GOP leaders are again relying on Trump to help get the bill across the finish line this week before the House takes a two-week recess.
Johnson has promised to pass the Senate's amendment to the House budget blueprint, with a vote planned Wednesday. But like the first time the House passed the budget blueprint in February, Johnson has several public holdout votes to flip -- and is counting on the president to deliver them.
Returning from the White House, Johnson said he believes Trump is persuading Republicans to fall in line on the budget blueprint.
“I think he did,” Johnson said when asked if the president has convinced the holdouts to flip their votes.
“A great meeting. The President was very helpful and engaged. We have a lot of members’ whose questions were answered. We are making great progress right now,” Johnson said.
In a later gaggle with reporters, Johnson said Trump was “very encouraging” and “expressed his commitment to making sure that we get the job done, that we find real savings to change the debt trajectory for the country but also protect essential programs.”
Asked if the House Rules Committee will mark up the budget blueprint tonight, Johnson brushed off the question and said “Stay tuned. Right now, we are going to the [National Republican Congressional Committee] black-tie event with the president.”
Several of the GOP holdouts were invited to meet with Trump, but Reps. Ralph Norman and Tim Burchett -- two of the holdouts -- told reporters that they weren't invited to the meeting.
Another hard no vote, Rep. Chip Roy, told reporters that there are "enough" Republicans opposed to the measure to kill it. He said he asked senators to come to a meeting to explain the math on a whiteboard that shows how their plan would reduce the deficit, but "they can't prove the math."
Johnson can afford to lose three votes, but up to a dozen Republicans have signaled they're not yet convinced to vote for it.
Passing this legislation through both chambers is required to kick off the process to craft the massive budget bill that includes much of Trump's sweeping domestic agenda.
Johnson also told reporters that the White House will provide holdouts with "a combination of commitments and assurances and all the leaders in both chambers."
Majority Leader Steve Scalise said, "The president's been our best advocate and whip to get this agenda moved forward every step of the way. And this bill is no different. Failure is just not an option."
