Senate Republicans are getting their first taste of some challenging dynamics in President-elect Donald Trump’s Washington.
The debate over passing border security, tax, energy and other GOP priorities via one or two filibuster-proof reconciliation bills seemed to be leaning the Senate GOP’s way at times. But the House finally notched a strategy win — thanks in part to the convincing argument that its majority is so thin and unruly that an all-or-nothing approach is best. It is one reconciliation bill for now.
But while Trump is backing the House’s preference, he’s also sending signals he could change his mind. Ultimately, what he cares about is speedy results.
Trump’s posture is leaving Senate Republicans searching for more clarity. The two-bill approach they supported was intended to score an early victory on border policy while leaving the tax debate for later. Now, they’re hoping to settle this once and for all when Trump visits with them Wednesday, as we scooped.
“I think we just need to all get on the same page,” Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said. “And I think now that President Trump has expressed a preference for one bill, that’s where I expect us to go.”
What this means for Thune: In an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said his relationship with Trump — which required some repair last year — is “evolving.” Thune said he and Trump “understand what each other wants to accomplish” and “there is an alignment of incentives.”
It made sense for Thune to press forward with the two-bill strategy for as long as he did. Not only were Trump’s top policy aides behind it, but conservative hardliners and key Trump allies in Thune’s conference were also supportive.
Thune, for his part, downplayed the strategy debate.
“Process issues, to me, are a lot less important than the results,” he said. Regardless of the exact process, Thune added, “this is really hard stuff.”
How Crapo operated: Senate Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), who just took the gavel for the first time, stayed as low-key as possible during the strategy debate. Crapo refused to take a public position, even as most Senate Republicans backed Thune’s push for two bills.
Crapo is the type to back his party leaders. But his House counterpart, Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.), was the leading force behind the one-bill approach. So Crapo was in an awkward spot, especially given he and Smith were at odds over the latter’s tax deal last year. Smith pitted himself directly against Thune and spoke out to push what he believed was best for Trump’s agenda.
