By admin WASHINGTON, Feb 24 (Global Affairs) – U.S. House Republicans face a major test this week as the fractured and narrow caucus tries to unify around a plan to advance President Donald Trump’s agenda for trillions in tax cuts and new spending on defense and border security.
With only a 218-215 majority in the House of Representatives, Speaker Mike Johnson can afford to lose just one vote on any measure that all Democrats vote against. He faces resistance from as many as a dozen Republicans over a budget resolution that would allow congressional committees to begin crafting full-scale legislation to enact the Trump agenda.
The House resolution calls for $4.5 trillion in tax cuts — a concern to lawmakers worried about the nation’s growing $36 trillion in debt — and calls for $2 trillion in cuts to spending — which have worried some lawmakers that their constituents could lose out on key services.
“What could go wrong, right?” Johnson joked during an appearance before the Conservative Political Action Conference last week.