Conservatives back border first, taxes later strategy in major party-line bills next year

Some of the most influential conservatives in Congress are throwing their weight behind a two-step approach to enacting President-elect Donald Trump’s agenda early next Congress.

In a letter Wednesday led by Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and House Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris (R-Md.), the influential bloc of Republicans voiced support for an initial effort aimed at border security policies and a second bill that would extend the Trump administration tax cuts while “including necessary spending reforms and cuts.”

“We believe it is critical that we prioritize the prompt passage of a border security focused reconciliation bill,” the conservatives wrote. “Mindful that our slim majority in the House and the filibuster in the Senate means that success is far from guaranteed, we believe that a two-step reconciliation process gives us the best chance of securing passage of this transformational border security legislation.”

As they think of how to pay for the second measure, the Republicans said they’d prioritize “repealing the green tax credits” within the Inflation Reduction Act and “the estimated $2.5 trillion worth of cuts that the Department of Government Efficiency will identify as necessary to restore the fiscal health of the nation.”

This group of conservatives will have enormous influence in a House expected to temporarily have just a 217-215 effective GOP majority, meaning the party cannot afford a single defection on major legislation with full attendance. Senate Republicans can only afford three party defections on major bills.

Still, the two-step approach has its prominent detractors, notably House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.). However, conservatives may take some solace from the fact that incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicated recently that “failure is not an option” on tax policy.

Trump himself has yet to publicly weigh in.