On Sunday, January 5, President-elect Donald Trump called on Republicans in Congress to consolidate his key priorities into a single, comprehensive bill that would include tax cuts, enhanced border security, and increased domestic energy production.
Trump suggested that Republicans could finance this extensive plan, which could potentially cost trillions of dollars, by raising tariffs on imported goods.
“Republicans must unite and swiftly deliver these historic victories for the American people. Be smart, tough, and send the bill to my desk to sign as soon as possible,” he wrote on his Truth Social platform.
With Republicans holding narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress, lawmakers have been deliberating on how to navigate a complex legislative strategy that would allow them to bypass Democratic opposition. This strategy aims to increase border security funding and extend Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, which are set to expire this year.
Lawmakers have been divided on whether to pass these bills individually or merge them into one package, as Trump advocates.
Trump is also pushing for Republicans to eliminate taxes on tipped income, which could raise the overall cost of the legislation. With a slim 219-215 majority, Republicans need to maintain unity to pass the bills.
Republicans are planning to utilize a set of intricate budget rules that would allow them to pass the bills with simple majorities, bypassing the need for a supermajority typically required for most bills in the Senate.
This would enable them to avoid appealing to Democrats but would also place limitations on what could be included in the package.
