Mike Johnson Claims Trump Prefers a Unified ‘Big Beautiful’ Reconciliation Bill – One America News Network
OAN Staff Blake Wolf
2:19 PM – Sunday, January 5, 2025
During a private meeting, Mike Johnson informed Republicans on Saturday that President-elect Donald Trump prefers a single reconciliation package instead of the two separate bills that GOP lawmakers have been advocating for, as reported by Politico.
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A reconciliation bill is a legislative tool concerning taxes and spending that streamlines the passage process, requiring only a simple majority of 50 votes to advance, as opposed to the usual 60 votes needed to counter a filibuster.
Johnson’s (R-La.) remarks were made in a closed House GOP gathering at Fort McNair aimed at devising a strategy to implement Trump’s agenda which includes priorities like border security, taxes, and energy policies.
“Ultimately, President Trump is likely to favor what he describes as a single, grand bill,” Johnson stated.
“There’s a lot of appeal to this approach because it allows us to consolidate all the elements into a unified vote, which could literally save the country. It also gives us more time to negotiate and ensure we get it right. However, this doesn’t imply we won’t start strong and right from the beginning of Congress,” Johnson continued.
“We made many campaign commitments, as did President Trump, and reconciliation is the key to delivering on those,” he added.
After the Republicans regained control of the White House and Senate while keeping the House majority, GOP leadership deliberated on whether to divide the package into two distinct bills.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) had previously supported a two-bill approach in December, stating that it would be pragmatic to act swiftly on issues they can address immediately, such as border security, defense, and energy.
“We could then return with another package focused on achieving cost savings from various federal agencies and programs, as well as discussing the expiration of the Trump tax cuts later this year,” Thune elaborated.
Meanwhile, House Ways & Means Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.), who backs Trump’s single bill strategy, emphasized that passing one comprehensive bill is the most reliable method for realizing Trump’s agenda since voting on separate measures heightens the chance of not passing any.
“We cannot afford to lose any votes,” Smith noted, highlighting the necessity for Republican unity as they only hold a one-vote margin in the House.
“My sole focus is to fulfill all the priorities the American public seeks – including taxes, border security, and energy. I’ve always believed that the best way to achieve this is through one consolidated bill,” Smith added.
Smith also cautioned that Democrats struggled to pass two reconciliation bills amid their own internal conflicts.
“Just look at history,” Smith remarked. “The Democrats weren’t able to do it.”
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