During a closed-door meeting with Republican senators at the Capitol on Wednesday night, President-elect Trump pointed to the strategic advantages of the omnibus approach to budget reconciliation that he favors.
President Trump has suggested that by combining bills related to both the southern border crisis and taxes into a single reconciliation bill, one issue could force some lawmakers to make difficult decisions. For example, if Republicans don’t support a portion of a tax, they would need to vote against it because border provisions are a measure.
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President Trump explained the strategic elements of his one-bill reconciliation approach. (Getty Images)
The party is trying to act quickly because part of President Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is set to expire this year. However, the 2025 tax debate is expected to be even more divisive within the Republican Party than the border issue. In particular, there is disagreement within the party over the state and local tax (SALT) deduction, which could benefit some states more than others and is viewed by some Republicans as inefficient. has been criticized.
“For example, if someone in the House of Representatives is hesitant because the tax deal doesn’t have SALT or other provisions they want, if that means they stand up and vote against the border; We need to do that,” Sen. John Hoeven, RN.D., told FOX News Digital. “That’s a very valid point.”
Mr. Trump himself did not offer SALT as an example, Hoeven said, but he mentioned it in an aside when Republican senators discussed the merits of a one-bill approach with other attendees.
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Sen. John Hoeven (D) speaks at the Capitol in Washington on May 4, 2022. Hoeven will face defectors from his own party and low-fund Democrats in his race for a third term in the U.S. Senate from North Dakota on Tuesday, Nov. 8. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib, File)
A person familiar with the matter told Fox News that Republicans are preparing to follow President Trump’s wishes for one bill, but are introducing two bills, one border-related bill and one tax bill, in case serious problems arise. He said that there is a hidden possibility of doing so. Obstacle.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (Democratic) told President Trump that if a bill is what the president wants, he would consider it first, the person said.
Many senators wanted to introduce two separate reconciliation bills instead, and some made that case to Trump during the meeting. However, the session will proceed with President Trump’s single-bill approach.
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One senator said Thune was “adamant” in supporting Trump’s policies as a leader. (Reuters)
Greenland, Canada and the Panama Canal were the subject of discussion following President Trump’s remarks. President Trump recently said he wants the U.S. to regain control of the Panama Canal, an important trade medium, and has also expressed interest in making Greenland and Canada part of the U.S.
Sources told Fox News that Trump himself brought these up during the meeting, at one point telling senators that these countries were “screwing up” the United States.
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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with the media in front of Rideau Cottage in Ottawa on Monday, January 6th. (AP/Adrian Wilde/Canadian Press)
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Sources said several Republican senators used the opportunity to call Trump’s comments about Canada “transformative.”
The senators say they believe his approach to Canada has already been successful in changing the country’s “behavior” and may even have contributed to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s recent resignation. the source added.
Julia Johnson is a political writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business, where she leads coverage of the U.S. Senate. She previously served as a political reporter for the Washington Examiner.
Follow Julia’s reporting on X. @juliaajohnson_ Send your tips to Julia.Johnson@fox.com.
