Speaker Mike Johnson, the Republican leader in the House of Representatives, expressed frustration with the Senate’s recent amendments to the GOP megabill, indicating his team is working to rally support for the revised version. During a press conference outside the House Rules Committee, Johnson emphasized the challenges of navigating the legislative process, stating, “We understand this is the process. It goes back and forth, and we’ll be working to get all of our members to yes.”
Johnson’s comments come amid growing dissent within the Republican Party over the megabill’s evolving scope. Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), a prominent conservative critic, has openly rejected the Senate’s version, accusing Senate Republicans of inflating the bill’s cost. Norman, who participated in an all-night vote-a-rama to pass the revised legislation, warned that the Senate’s amendments have added over $670 billion to the initial proposal, which he believes is financially unsustainable.
Norman called on the House to abandon the Senate plan and instead return to its original proposal, urging his colleagues to “pack our bags and go home and tell them to get serious.” He argued that the House should prioritize fiscal responsibility over political theatrics, emphasizing the need for a “meaningful negotiation” rather than a rushed, partisan process.
Johnson, however, signaled continued confidence in the legislative timeline, stating that the House would evaluate the next 2,4 hours’ developments before determining whether the July 4 deadline for sending the bill to President Donald Trump’s desk remains viable. His comments highlight the deepening internal rifts within the Republican Party, as factions clash over the megabill’s final shape and the likelihood of its passage.
Meanwhile, House Freedom Caucus member Chip Roy (R-Texas) joined Johnson and Norman in a private meeting outside the Rules committee, underscoring the complexity of navigating the legislative process. Roy, a key figure in the House’s conservative wing, has been a vocal advocate for limiting the bill’s scope and ensuring its fiscal viability, reflecting a broader ideological struggle within the party over the megabill’s ultimate fate.