Members of the House GOP leadership recently engaged in a lengthy meeting at the White House cabinet room to discuss the advancement of President Donald Trump's agenda. While some progress was made on policy matters, key questions regarding the bill's price tag and how to address the debt limit remain unresolved.
During the meeting, House Republicans presented a proposal for a comprehensive budget and policy bill, differing from the preference of Senate Republicans for two separate bills. President Trump, however, did not formally endorse either plan, indicating flexibility in achieving his legislative goals.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise highlighted Trump's active involvement in examining the plan's intricate details. The discussion, involving 15 to 20 Republicans, at times utilized a whiteboard to outline specific points of the proposal.
Scalise mentioned that progress was made in narrowing down areas of disagreement or uncertainty. While contentious issues such as the debt limit and state and local tax relief were deliberated, no final agreements were reached on these matters. Scalise refrained from disclosing specific details of the progress made but acknowledged that consensus was achieved on some significant issues.
Following the meeting, GOP leadership intends to review the details with other members before making conclusive decisions. The House Budget Committee aims to convene next week to present and approve its budget blueprint, marking the initial step in the complex process of advancing Trump's agenda.
