3 days ago
Chip Roy says he means it this time
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Good Tuesday afternoon, and a brief word of thanks for the miracle of air conditioning.
Senate Republicans are scrambling to finalize their version of the GOP megabill, pass it this weekend and then get out of town. They're not much concerned at the moment with what happens after that.
The House, they're convinced, will swallow the bill rather than defy President Donald Trump, who made clear today 'NO ONE GOES ON VACATION UNTIL IT'S DONE.'
But House GOP hard-liners are starting to speak up. At least three — Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris, chief rebel Chip Roy and Rep. Eric Burlison — said today they will tank the bill if House leaders try to jam them with anything that resembles the current Senate bill.
'We may not leave town for a while then,' Roy told us after Trump's threat this morning. 'I can vote no as many times as it takes and for as long as it takes, to do something actually big and beautiful.'
Roy added the Senate bill (which, to be clear, remains in flux) is 'not even close' to the House budget plan Speaker Mike Johnson promised House GOP fiscal hawks he would abide by earlier this year.
Harris took a similar line: 'If the Senate tries to jam the House with this version, I won't vote 'present.' I'll vote NO,' he posted.
Burlison told our colleague Chris Marquette he is a 'no' on the Senate bill as it stands, even if it means Trump threatening a primary challenge like he's done to GOP Rep. Thomas Massie.
'At the end of the day, like, I love the president. He and I are in total alignment on the goals,' he said. 'I can't be a part of growing the deficits, so that's where I'm at.'
As we all know, the hard right has a recent record of making lots of noise before ultimately finding their way to yes. But with Roy & Co. having drawn and re-drawn their fiscal red lines several times over now, there's reason to think it will be a lot harder this time for them to back down.
WHAT'S STILL COMING TODAY: Republican and Democratic senators are in their 12:45 p.m. weekly conference lunches, so expect more news out of that soon — including possible timing for Iran war powers and megabill motion-to-proceed votes. (It's trending Thursday and Friday, respectively, people in the know tell our Jordain Carney.)
The House is about to vote on a motion to table Rep. Al Green's Trump impeachment resolution, followed by a rule for the fiscal 2026 Military Construction-VA spending bill and legislation condemning riots in Los Angeles. (Expect Green's impeachment push to die with help from Democratic leaders, as Nicholas Wu reports.)
ICYMI:
Iran briefings postponed — A pair of planned congressional briefings on the volatile situation in the Middle East have been postponed, according to four people granted anonymity to describe the private plans. They're now expected later in the week.
Garcia to lead Oversight Dems — Rep. Robert Garcia will be the next top Democrat on House Oversight after beating Rep. Stephen Lynch in a 150-63 caucus vote this morning. 'We'll get immediately to work,' Garcia told reporters afterward — and then headed straight to a panel deposition.
Trade deals on hold for the megabill — The White House is waiting to announce a number of trade deals until after the Republican-controlled Congress completes action on the megabill, a top White House official said today. National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett told Fox Business Network that there was no problem in the ongoing negotiations with more than a dozen trading partners ahead of a July 8 deadline for big reciprocal tariffs (which could very well be extended).
