By Richard Rubin and Olivia Beavers
WASHINGTON—Republicans squeaked their budget blueprint through the House late Tuesday after party leaders swayed a handful of wavering members to back the framework for President Trump’s tax, border and spending-cut agenda.
The 217-215 vote delivered a victory for House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.), who united all but one of his members around an approach that requires significantly reducing Medicaid costs and likely won’t accommodate all of Trump’s desired tax cuts. It’s a sign that the Republican-controlled Congress might be able to deliver major legislation despite slim majorities in the House and Senate.
Still, the path ahead isn’t straightforward. Tuesday’s vote sets up a conflict with the Republican-controlled Senate, which favors larger tax cuts and plans to alter the House budget rather than accept it. And even after the House and Senate agree on a budget, lawmakers will have to negotiate hundreds of details on taxes, health care, energy and food stamps before they can get a bill to Trump’s desk.
Republicans have a 218-215 majority in the House, but the number of Democratic absences had been uncertain and led to a night of drama and arm-twisting on the House floor. Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D., Colo.) returned for her first vote since giving birth last month, adding a last-minute wrinkle to the vote counting. Rep. Kevin Mullin (D., Calif.) arrived late Tuesday for his first vote since knee surgery. Rep. Raul Grijalva (D., Ariz.), who is fighting cancer, was the only absent member.
Rep. Warren Davidson (R., Ohio) had said earlier Tuesday that he couldn’t support the budget without clarity on the path ahead on securing cuts for federal agency funding in advance of a potential March 14 government shutdown. He ultimately voted yes.
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