Speaker Johnson Unveils GOP Reconciliation Blueprint, Pledges Deficit-Neutral Approach
Johnson announced that a ‘blueprint’ for the reconciliation plan would be unveiled on the last day of the House GOP retreat, with the intention of passing it by April.
DORAL, Florida—On January 28, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) indicated that the House Republican Conference has come to an agreement on a plan to implement President Donald Trump’s policy goals, following discussions held at a members retreat.
The majority of the conference spent the previous 48 hours at the Trump National Doral, which serves as the Trump Organization’s golf club and resort located in Miami-Dade County, Florida. During the retreat, both Trump and Vice President JD Vance addressed the conference on January 27 and January 28, respectively, aiming to facilitate an agreement among varying factions.
In a “fireside chat” with reporters on January 28, Johnson stated that a legislative “blueprint” would be revealed on January 29.
“The blueprint is set to be ready by tomorrow, by the time we conclude our retreat, for the budget resolution,” Johnson said during the session. “The resolution will be reviewed in the Budget Committee in the first week of February.”
“In March, we will kick off the committee process,” Johnson elaborated, indicating that the actual bill may be brought to a floor vote by April.
Johnson also mentioned that the bill is expected to be “deficit neutral” and would not undermine benefits provided through Medicare or the Social Security program. To maintain these commitments, along with Trump’s pledge to cut rather than raise taxes, Johnson’s comments imply that the bill may necessitate substantial reductions in federal spending.
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Republicans are aiming to utilize the expedited “budget reconciliation” process to implement Trump’s policies and bypass any Democratic filibuster in the Senate, thus avoiding the necessity of securing 60 votes to conclude debate.
This process comes with particular limitations. A concurrent budget resolution must be passed, outlining the bill’s elements, which may only encompass provisions pertinent to taxation, spending, and borrowing. As a result, several policy reforms sought by Trump, particularly those related to illegal immigration, might be excluded from consideration.
Moreover, Senate rules allow for only one reconciliation bill to be considered each year. Certain Senators have been advocating for Trump to endorse the passage of two reconciliation bills during the 119th Congress, similar to the dual bills endorsed by President Joe Biden, namely the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Johnson has, however, opposed this notion and has advocated for a single bill.
“For the House, the one bill strategy makes the most sense. We have a very diverse conference,” Johnson stated. “We have various interests and district-specific concerns that are not relevant in the Senate, so our calculation is more complex… The one bill strategy ensures the best chance of success.”
Other Congressional members present shared positive feedback regarding the negotiations. “[They’re] all right. You’re either at the table or you’re on the menu,” Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) remarked to The Epoch Times.
“I fully support it,” Johnson stated. “It’s a temporary pause… This is a common-sense approach… I think it’s the right move for a new administration. I believe it will ultimately be harmless.”
Johnson also revealed that House Republicans would push for the passage of the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act—a legislative effort aimed at blocking foreign nationals from participating in U.S. federal elections. This bill had previously passed the House in the 118th Congress but did not receive any attention in the Senate.
Emel Akan contributed to this report.
