Trump confronts division among House GOP factions at Mar-a-Lago: 'What is the next step?'

This weekend, the winter White House of President-elect Donald Trump is hosting a parade of House Republicans, all of whom are hoping to meet with the incoming commander in chief to discuss a conservative policy overhaul.

The upcoming vote on the president's budget proposal will test the strength of Trump's influence over Congressional Republicans and whether he can overcome deep-seated divisions on fiscal policy.

"The president is hosting multiple factions, not just one. The goal is to level-set the understanding of what we can accomplish. One GOP lawmaker told Planet Chronicle Digital that nobody disagrees on the large goals, but there are specific issues that will create concerns for people. We need to work through them."

On Friday, Trump will meet with members of the House Freedom Caucus, some of whom opposed a government funding bill that the president-elect endorsed in December.

He will meet with senior Republicans, House committee chairs, and GOP lawmakers from blue states.

The budget reconciliation process has been a source of disagreement among Congressional Republicans, as it typically enables the party in power to push their agenda through a single, large bill.

The Senate's threshold for passage is lowered to a simple majority with reconciliation, making it the same as the House of Representatives.

While reconciliation only permits the passage of budgetary and fiscal measures, both parties have historically attempted to expand their agendas by stretching these limits. GOP leaders have indicated their intention to utilize reconciliation to address border security, energy policy, defense, and to prolong Trump's 2017 tax cuts.

There is a disagreement among people regarding whether to split the goals of passing an initial bill on border and energy policies and then taking more time on tax policy. Those who support the two-track approach believe that doing so will enable Republicans to achieve an early victory on border and energy policies while giving them more time to work on tax policy.

Those who support only one bill have cautioned that it has been decades since two reconciliation bills were passed, and that doing so would require significant political capital, potentially putting Trump's tax cuts at risk of expiration.

Rural representatives in the House GOP conference disagree with blue state Republicans on whether to use reconciliation to increase the SALT deduction cap, a move supported by suburban representatives in New York City and Los Angeles.

According to Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., the discussion is likely to be productive, and it presents a valuable chance for us to explore a range of topics beyond SALT. Specifically, the conversation centered on the priorities of blue state Republicans.

Malliotakis mentioned the new congestion tax in New York City, tax breaks for senior citizens on social security, and bringing pharmaceutical manufacturing back to the U.S. through the tax code as agenda items.

She stated that while she has a broader agenda, SALT is especially crucial for New York members.

Rep. Barry Moore, R-Ala., a House Freedom Caucus member, stated that the border would be a top priority for his group's meeting with Trump.

"Securing our border and hiring more agents will require money, but we must also cut spending where possible," Moore stated to Planet Chronicle Digital.

"It is necessary for us to be on the same page, and I believe we will have a chance for Trump to listen to us, as well as for us to listen to him."

Rep. Russell Fry, R-S.C., a strong supporter of Trump, stated that he would also be present at Mar-a-Lago this weekend, despite concerns about disagreements on topics such as SALT.

The dialogue is crucial to ensure we deliver for the American people, regardless of differing opinions on issues. It's essential to have open discussions to find solutions, he emphasized.

Trump has not publicly disclosed the specifics of what he wants to pass through reconciliation, but he prefers a one-bill approach and is open to a two-bill option.

One bill is favored by Malliotakis and other Republicans on the tax-focused House Ways & Means Committee.

However, a member of the House Freedom Caucus doubted that would happen.

They stated that they believe they will discuss big-picture reconciliation and that it is likely to involve two bills rather than one. However, they added that this may happen organically without the need for forced action.