House Republicans are preparing for their most significant markup day as they navigate major policy disputes that could jeopardize President Trump’s ambitious legislative agenda. The focus is on key issues including the tax package, Medicaid, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Blue-state Republicans are threatening to block the tax plan due to proposals that could alienate their constituents, while committee Democrats are pushing back against potential cuts to Medicaid and SNAP. The political tension is intensifying as the GOP faces internal divisions and potential opposition from Senate leaders.
The Ways and Means committee’s tax package faces significant opposition, with at least one blue-state Republican threatening to torpedo the GOP’s tax plan over Chair Jason Smith’s controversial proposal to triple the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap to $30,000, limited to individuals earning $400,000 or less. Rep. Nick LaLota, a key supporter of higher SALT caps, criticized the proposal as lacking in substance and not worth their votes, signaling that the bill might effectively be dead on the floor without the support of these crucial lawmakers.
The Energy and Commerce committee is set to hold a lengthy markup focusing on Medicaid, potentially extending for 27 hours, reminiscent of the 2017 attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Democrats are preparing to introduce numerous amendments to force Republicans into difficult votes on Medicaid, with some centrist Republicans on board with a proposal to have states make hard choices. However, the real test may come on the House floor when conservative lawmakers push for deeper spending cuts.
The Agriculture Committee’s plan to shift part of the SNAP program’s funding burden to states using a sliding scale based on their payment error rates is also highly contentious, with fears that rural and red states like Alaska and South Carolina could be disproportionately affected. The markup will take place over multiple sessions, with committee members expected to reconvene after a break.
Amid these developments, the Democratic National Committee is promoting a message criticizing Republicans for potential cuts to safety-net programs, with the Democratic Women’s Caucus appealing to Republicans to protect programs like Medicaid and SNAP for vulnerable populations. Meanwhile, GOP senators are also showing concern, with Sen. Ron Johnson criticizing the House megabill for not going far enough to reduce the deficit, foreshadowing potential internal conflicts within the party.
Other developments include a proposed 10-year moratorium on state and local AI regulation, a concession to the tech industry, and ongoing political maneuvering within the House Oversight Committee. The House GOP’s ambitious legislative agenda faces mounting challenges as internal and external pressures threaten to derail key components of President Trump’s policy goals.