Donald Trump presses Republican House dissidents to pass US tax bill

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Donald Trump has been hard at work trying to win over Republican critics in a final push to get his flagship tax and spending bill through Congress by a self-imposed July 4 deadline. The President cleared his schedule for the day to meet privately with Republican rebels from the House of Representatives who have threatened to derail his plans.

A group of conservative and centrist lawmakers were seen entering the West Wing of the White House for a two-hour meeting with the President and Vice President JD Vance. Tennessee’s Tim Burchett described the meeting as “very productive” and expressed optimism about reaching a resolution.

However, as the day progressed, it became uncertain whether Republican lawmakers would be able to strike a deal and meet the President’s deadline. The legislation hit a roadblock on the House floor as Speaker of the House Mike Johnson struggled to garner enough support for a procedural vote that would pave the way for a formal debate on the bill.

The bill, dubbed the “big, beautiful bill,” includes extensive tax cuts from Trump’s first term, funded in part by significant cuts to Medicaid and other social welfare programs. It also proposes rolling back Joe Biden-era tax credits for clean energy while increasing investments in the military and border protection.

The Senate narrowly passed a version of the bill on Tuesday after three Senate Republicans sided with Democrats, prompting Vance to cast a tiebreaking vote. The bill now awaits approval from the House before it can be signed into law by the President. Trump and his allies are eager for the bill to become law before the Independence Day holiday on Friday.

Some House Republicans have raised concerns about the Senate’s version of the bill, threatening to vote it down. Fiscally conservative lawmakers, including members of the House Freedom Caucus, are opposed to the legislation’s cost, which the Congressional Budget Office estimates will add $3.4 trillion to the deficit over the next decade.

On the other hand, more moderate members argue that the proposed cuts to Medicaid are too severe and would leave millions of Americans without health insurance. The White House has countered the CBO’s projections, insisting that the bill will pay for itself over time through increased economic growth.

Despite the challenges, Speaker Johnson remains optimistic about passing the bill by the end of the week. He reassured the public that the House is close to reaching a consensus and that the bill will benefit all Americans.

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