Where Trump’s massive policy bill stands in the House as some Republicans express concerns

Amna Nawaz:

Welcome to the "News Hour."

It's been a dramatic day in the U.S. House, where President Trump's massive tax cut and budget bill is currently in limbo.

Geoff Bennett:

There are a number of conservatives not yet on board and the House has frozen proceedings as its leaders try to get enough votes to move forward.

Our congressional correspondent, Lisa Desjardins, is on Capitol Hill with the latest.

So, Lisa, where exactly do things stand right now?

Lisa Desjardins:

I will start by looking at what's in the chamber near me. This is what history at a pivot point looks like, a mostly empty House chamber where staff has been waiting for some three hours. They have been frozen on this vote, which is a procedural vote.

The idea is to get to the rule vote, which is a procedure that is needed to essentially open the door to get onto the big budget bill. But right now, the door to the big budget bill remains closed. And that is because of conservatives and others in the House conference, the Republicans, who say they're just simply not ready yet to vote yes on this bill.

This led to a dilemma for House Speaker Mike Johnson. I watched him on the House floor going one by one, trying to convince members to vote yes for these procedural votes. But, in the end, he left the chamber and was stoic as he walked out of the chamber.

This video we have from Kyle Midura, our producer, showed he was on the phone trying to figure out a way out. Now, in just the past hour or so, Speaker Johnson has been more optimistic. He told reporters that he thinks the bill, not just the procedural votes, but the bill itself could pass tonight.

I mean, it's already dinnertime on the East Coast. So that is optimistic, but it is not impossible. And it is a matter of negotiations between Republicans and other Republicans right now.

Geoff Bennett:

And those Republicans who oppose the bill at this point, Lisa, what are their main grievances?

Lisa Desjardins:

Right. There are still two groups. There are some moderates who are still uncomfortable with this bill and the cuts to Medicaid.

But as I speak to them, more and more of them seem to be getting on board the bill. That includes Don Bacon of Nebraska, who told me he likes the spending on defense that we talked about last night. He's willing to take the tradeoffs because of that. Or Ken Calvert, a Republican of California, told me he's getting there on this bill.

The bigger problem tonight seems to be convincing the Freedom Caucus and fiscal conservatives. Let's look at part of the group. It is a large group of dozens of members with concerns. But here are some core members, Chip Roy among them and some others, who say that they are concerned about the red ink in this bill.

Some of them, including Ralph Norman, have told me that they were a hard no on the procedure and on the bill itself this morning. But let me tell you what has been happening in the last couple of hours. These members have been in talks not just with Speaker Johnson, but with the White House.

And what they are asking for, what they have been offered are perhaps some executive orders if they go for the bill in its current form, executive orders to somehow cut spending or rein in some of the social policy that they wanted in this bill.

But one member told me they are concerned because of the way court rulings have gone that they're not sure those executive orders would stand. So what's happening is you're seeing all three branches involved in this discussion in theory. And while these members want to get to yes, there is a bottom-line number problem for them in this bill.

Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA):

They haven't thought through because they're all in subservience to getting it signed on July 4. They have no idea what they did in the Senate. They have no idea what they're about to do here in the day because they haven't seen the particulars of this bill.

Lisa Desjardins:

And that's how Democrats feel about it. Democrats, as you saw, held a rally earlier today. That's one of the Democratic committee chairmen. They're raising a point about the question — they're questioning as, some conservatives have as well, the idea that there just hasn't been enough time for this.

Geoff Bennett:

All right, Lisa, in the minute we have left, what happens next, such that anyone knows?

Lisa Desjardins:

We don't know. I think tonight is a critical moment for this largest of tax cuts and largest of health care cuts bill in history. The negotiations continue. And it will be up to this handful, a few dozen members to decide whether this moves forward tonight or if it waits until after July 4.

Geoff Bennett:

Lisa Desjardins at the U.S. Capitol for us tonight.

Lisa, thank you.

Lisa Desjardins:

You're welcome.