DORAL, Fla. — Home Republicans brimmed with optimism after President Donald Trump’s speech at their annual retreat on Monday night, the place the brand new commander in chief detailed his coverage targets for a busy first 100 days of the brand new administration.
Trump’s speech, which ran simply over an hour, coated a variety of points, from post-election unity to his wishlist for Republicans’ conservative coverage overhaul by way of the price range reconciliation course of.
“It was enjoyable, you realize? I imply, in the event you’re a Republican, Trump made politics enjoyable once more,” Home Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole, R-Okla., informed Fox Information Digital. “I imply, it has been a rare week. There is a blizzard of govt orders and actions. It is really pushed Congress on some motion.”
Rep. Mike Haridopolos, R-Fla., a first-term member of Congress, was buoyant when approached by Fox Information Digital on the primary night time of his first Home GOP points convention, an annual Republican occasion.
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President Donald Trump spoke to Republicans for simply over an hour on Monday night time. (Evan Vucci/AP)
“That is precisely why we ran for workplace, to show round this nation as shortly as attainable. And that the president was in full type tonight. And I am so excited to be part of this modification,” Haridopolos stated. “You might really feel the power within the room, and I feel persons are very excited to get this agenda by means of, and extra importantly see the outcomes.”
It comes as Republicans negotiate on the best way to use their razor-thin majorities within the Home and Senate to move large conservative coverage modifications by means of price range reconciliation.
By lowering the edge for Senate passage from 60 votes to a 51-seat easy majority, reconciliation permits a celebration in command of each congressional chambers to enact sweeping modifications, supplied they’re related to budgetary and financial coverage.
There was some disagreement for weeks over the best way to bundle the GOP’s priorities, nevertheless. Senate Republicans have pushed for breaking the bundle up into two payments in an effort to rating early victories on border safety and power coverage whereas leaving the extra complicated situation of tax reform for a second invoice.
Home Republican leaders, nevertheless, are involved that the heavy political raise that passing a reconciliation invoice entails would imply lawmakers run out of time earlier than they’ll lengthen Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, which expire on the finish of this 12 months.
Trump, who beforehand stated he favors “one massive stunning invoice,” was noncommittal on the technique throughout his speech.
“Whether or not it is one invoice, two payments, I do not care,” he stated.
Home Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole stated Trump “made politics enjoyable once more.” (Getty Photos)
He was extra particular about what insurance policies he wished to see handed, nevertheless, together with extra funding for border safety, completely extending his 2017 tax cuts and ending taxation for suggestions, Social Safety advantages and additional time pay. Trump additionally has vowed to finish inexperienced power insurance policies in favor of bolstering the fossil gasoline sector.
Cole stated he was involved in regards to the enhance in federal spending that a few of Trump’s particular coverage targets would entail, however he conceded the president was possible talking in generalities.
“I feel Trump, when he thinks about these items, he is fascinated with simply the typical particular person and what a burden it’s on them,” Cole stated.
Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., one in every of three Home Republicans who gained in a district that voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris in November, praised Trump’s speech as “unifying” however shared issues with Trump’s broad-brush strategy.
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“I believed that message is fairly unifying. I do. I feel generally the execution will get all messy,” Bacon stated.
“Whereas I used to be in there, I had a businessman from Omaha that does wind power, and he is anxious about what which means. So I feel it … might be a bit extra focused. Generally I feel folks on the periphery are scared that their enterprise can be impacted.”
However Nationwide Republican Congressional Committee Chair Richard Hudson, R-N.C., who’s tasked with main Republicans by means of the 2026 midterm elections, stated leaders would hash out specifics as wanted whereas crediting Trump with bringing the GOP collectively.
Nationwide Republican Congressional Committee Chair Richard Hudson praised Trump’s speech as unifying. (Al Drago/Bloomberg by way of Getty Photos)
“We’ll see how the small print shake out in these couple of days. However what I believed was nice is he saved coming again to his theme: If all Republicans stick collectively, we could be profitable. And I believed that was a great message for all members,” Hudson stated.
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., stated she was “very comfortable to listen to” Trump name for a decrease tax price for brand new home manufacturing, notably in relation to prescription drugs.
It is a difficulty she hopes Republicans will deal with of their reconciliation course of.
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“It was necessary that President Trump harassed unity as we enter the timeframe for drafting and passing reconciliation, extending the tax bundle,” Malliotakis stated.
And Rep. Nathaniel Moran, R-Texas, additionally praised Trump’s speech whereas dismissing issues about his lack of dedication towards a one- or two-reconciliation invoice technique.
“He is a results-oriented man, and everyone knows that. And what we have to do is no matter is critical to get the outcomes for the American folks and put his insurance policies in place,” Moran stated.
