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Republicans Stall Budget Cuts00:15:03
unidentified
Will testify on Capitol Hill on the Trump administration's deportation policies and other priorities for her department while appearing before a House Appropriations Subcommittee.
Also at 10, Treasury Secretary Scott Besson will testify on President Trump's tariffs and economic agenda before a House Appropriations Subcommittee, the Secretary's first congressional hearing since his confirmation in January, live on the free C-SPAN Now video app.
All of these events are also online at c-span.org.
Democracy.
It isn't just an idea.
It's a process.
A process shaped by leaders elected to the highest offices and entrusted to a select few with guarding its basic principles.
It's where debates unfold, decisions are made, and the nation's course is charted.
Democracy in real time.
This is your government at work.
This is C-SPAN, giving you your democracy unfiltered.
We're joined by Mika Solner, Congressional Reporter at Punch Bowl News.
And Mika Solner, lots of budget talk on Capitol Hill right now, some in the form of budget reconciliation, some in the form of fiscal 2026 budgeting.
So for folks who don't follow this every day, sort of orient us to what's happening right now.
unidentified
Yeah, so House Republicans are in a very pressured spot, I guess if you want to put it that way, to pass President Trump's agenda quickly.
I know that Speaker Johnson has laid out a really ambitious timeline of wanting to get this one big beautiful bill, as the president has referred to it, done by Memorial Day.
So right now, there's a lot of roadblocks in the conference, including pushback from moderate, more vulnerable Republicans when it comes to cuts to Medicaid and other issues related to what could potentially be in this bill.
So there is basically a stallment right now within the committee level of where things are at.
This is how it's put in today's Punch Bowl News for subscribers.
During this past week, several dynamics have emerged that make us wonder not only if a reconciliation deal is close, but whether Republicans can even pull it off at all.
Explain.
unidentified
Yes.
So in the last several weeks, there's been a lot of developments.
You know, we saw a lot of vocal pushback from a group of about a dozen moderate Republicans who are very, very concerned about Medicaid cuts.
They basically view a vote that substantially cuts that program as political suicide for them.
And we saw Speaker Johnson push back markups for key committees that are tasked with key portions of the reconciliation bill.
That's the ways and means in charge of Trump's tax cuts, as well as campaign promises like no tax on tips.
There's the AG committee, which is going to be tasked with SNAP and food stamps, as well as the Energy and Commerce, which is going to be in charge of Medicaid.
How unusual is that to have a hearing scheduled and then get it pushed back for a week?
And what does that do to the timeline that the speaker is working on here and what the president is expecting?
unidentified
I don't think it's particularly unusual when there are issues, when there are issues in terms of what it actually, if it goes to a markup, we'll be able to pass on the floor.
Essentially, the markup is the first step, right, to get that passed.
And those changes are going to come when these get taken up in committee.
So whether it gets amended or what provisions are going to be.
And I think that this is potentially going to be chaotic for the timeline with such a short timeframe, about two weeks away.
And then one factor that you note in Punch Bowl this morning, the White House is also now finally getting engaged in this process, which has both upsides and risks.
unidentified
Yes.
So we saw White House engagement has upped drastically.
I know that there's been key members of Congress, including Majority Leader Scalise, Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith, that have met with President Trump last week.
And it looks like Trump's really getting involved.
We saw the White House put out its own budget proposal last week that has had some issues with the Hill.
So we're going to probably see a lot more engagement and a lot more involvement from the president and his allies, as well as his liaisons and staff that he's deploying to get this built through.
We do it most Mondays when Congress is in session.
Mika Solner is with us of Punchball News, taking your questions on this topic, any of the topics that they're going to be addressing on Capitol Hill this week.
Here's how you can call in.
It's 202-748-8000 for Democrats to call.
Republicans 202-748-8001.
Independents 202-748-8002.
Another topic, not budget reconciliation, that will be talked about this week is renaming, officially renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
It's Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Green's legislation.
Explain the timeline here and whether it has the votes.
unidentified
Yeah, I mean, I think it's going to be interesting to see what Democrats might actually vote for that bill.
But I will point out one thing that's really interesting about this whole Gulf of America push is that you see people like Marjorie Taylor Greene, whose bill is going to be taken up, but we also see members like Dusty Johnson, who's considered more moderate from South Dakota.
He chairs the Main Street caucus, which is seen as more of a pragmatic group of Republicans, the governing wing, if you want to call it that, also introduced similar bills that advocate for that.
So I think it just shows that more Republicans within the House conference want to get aligned with Trump and really want to build a relationship with the president.
So what else are you going to be watching for this week outside of the budget fights that you're tracking every day?
unidentified
Yeah, outside of the budget fights, I think it's worth watching House Democrats.
I know that in the last few weeks they've had a couple, I guess, you know, shake-ups when it comes to the Oversight Committee.
I know that that fight is still ongoing in terms of who's going to come after interim ranking member Lynch, after Jerry Connolly stepped aside, as well as some of the internal banners that they're having there.
I know that Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said at town hall that there's more trips planned to El Salvador.
So that's one thing that I'll be watching as well.
This is one of the more high-profile committees, mostly because they can investigate most anything they want to investigate.
Jerry Connolly stepping aside for health reasons, announcing that.
Why is this turned into an internal battle to watch for Democrats?
What are the specific dynamics here?
unidentified
Yeah, so I think this is just kind of the classic generational struggle that the Democratic Party is facing.
So Connolly essentially tapped Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts, a more senior member of the committee who is really citing his experience as why he is fit to serve in that role.
But a lot of these, the committee, which is known for being bombastic at times, they're more of a combative committee that often they have viral moments and things like that, is made up of a lot of younger progressives and some of these new members of Congress.
And their argument is that they want someone that's more of a fresh face.
And they're also arguing that putting Lynch in that position, he was the third senior member of the committee, actually bypasses two black women ahead of him, which was Eleanor Holmes Norton of DC and then Jasmine Crockett, who was fighting up.
Has minority leader Jeffries gotten involved here?
Is he going to get involved in this?
And what does it say about kind of the future leadership of House Democrats?
Or are we reading too much into one committee fight?
unidentified
He has not publicly gotten involved.
I know that there's likely some strings behind the scenes, but I think that it kind of speaks to the relationship here between leadership and progressives.
Not publicly.
I know that Jeffries is really trying to work on his image and his visibility now that there's been some pushback in previous months.
The Punch Bowl News known for its coverage of these sort of relationships on Capitol Hill and how it affects the power dynamic.
So you just did Jeffries, do Speaker Johnson right now, what's the most interesting relationship to watch as he tries to navigate the Republican conference, as he tries to wrangle all these various members and get them on board for one big, beautiful bill as it's been described.
unidentified
Yeah, I mean, I think that the Johnson-Trump relationship is extremely interesting.
And right now, it's on really, I guess, good grounds.
He's built a strong relationship with the president.
I know that the president has backed him a lot and supported him on social media.
And I think that's pushed some of his members to support bills that they were cautious about in the past.
And so I think that that dynamic is interesting.
But if he can't, for some reason, get this bill through, I wonder if that dynamic is going to shift as well.
Mika Solner with us for about another 10 minutes or so this morning on the Washington Journal, taking your phone calls if you have questions about the week ahead in Washington or these various budget issues that they track every day on Punchbowl News.
If you haven't signed up for their newsletter, a great way to start your morning and stay on track with everything that's happening on Capitol Hill to call in to chat.
It's 202-748-8000 for Democrats to call.
202-748-8001 for Republicans.
And Independents, 202-748-8002.
Let me switch to a different topic, the debt limit.
Where are we on that?
How much time is there to fend off going over the edge, as it's been called, the X date as it's known?
Where are we on raising the debt limit right now?
unidentified
Yeah, I think that timeline is still a little bit wonky just because it's being very overshadowed by everything else that's going on.
So, you know, I think that's a question that I can ask lawmakers on the Hill this week.
These things slow until they become very quick, it seems like, on Capitol Hill.
A couple questions from social media from viewers who've been watching.
One viewer, clown, is the handle.
Talk about tax cuts for corporations.
That's all I want to hear about.
Where are we on tax cuts for corporations?
unidentified
You know, I haven't followed the tax cuts for corporations as closely, but I do know that that's probably something that Ways and Means is swaying right now.
I know that they're very focused on passing the Trump tax cuts as well.
John in New Hampshire, the Granite State, Republican, good morning.
You're on the air with me, Kasolner.
unidentified
Yeah, thank you.
A couple things.
The word oligarchy is a big word these days.
We seem to hear it all the time.
And to me, the oligarchy of the judges.
So I was hoping to maybe see an article or something like that on the oligarchy of what the judges are doing, because several times now they haven't even pointed to law in their decisions.
And the other thing I wanted to mention, the Supreme Court, they're about to hear a case from Harvard, most likely.
Four of those judges graduated from Harvard.
So I'm wondering why we haven't seen one article yet on if those judges should recuse themselves.
Happy to have you talk about the Supreme Court, but I know Congress is more your beat, but there's plenty of efforts on Capitol Hill to rein in the federal judiciary.
Where are we on those efforts, if you can start there?
unidentified
Yeah, I think that's another thing that's been overshadowed.
But in recent weeks, I know that there's been a lot of discussion, especially in the House Judiciary Committee.
I know that Chairman Jim Jordan has been really pushing on this.
There's been a lot of broad efforts, whether that's curbing it through the appropriations funding for judges.
And then there was a failed impeachment effort, of course, for Judge Boesberg, who Trump called for his impeachment.
But that's not going to fly with moderates.
So I think that House Republicans are still kind of weighing options as to how to rein in the judiciary.
I know every fiscal year, all the various agency heads come to Capitol Hill and testify.
But also, we usually get a couple members of the Supreme Court to come and talk about the judiciary's budget.
Has that happened yet?
Or do you know when that's going to happen?
It's always interesting to see which, it's usually two justices that come over and testify.
I don't remember having seen that already this year.
unidentified
Yeah, I don't believe that's happened yet, but I think when it does, it'll be interesting given how some of the more conservative justices have voted on some of Trump's agenda.
When they do that, is it usually a liberal and a conservative justice that they send over?
Or do you know anything about how they pick who gets the job of having to go before a congressional committee and testify about the judiciary's budget?
I'm calling on the Democrat line, but I voted for Ross Perot.
unidentified
I heard the sucking sound when we were losing all of our jobs.
And now many of these people that are talking about the tariffs and everything, they were what was called free market, free enterprise capitalists.
They're the ones that made China most favored nation trading status.
And now we're dealing with these tariffs.
And as we look at the tariffs, I believe every product that comes in that is involved with the tariffs should have a stamp on it, just like the way we do sales taxes.
And what we're being deceived by, when they cut income taxes, that money then has to be made up some way, and it goes to state sales taxes.
And a sales tax, every person pays the same amount.
If you're a billionaire or if you're barely getting by, you go to the store, you pay the same tax.
And the other thing, when Donald Trump is going after these student loans, we should remind him he's had six bankruptcies.
I am been a Democrat for years because of my grandfather.
He said it's not for bankruptcy.
It's your word.
It's not an accounting, I mean, it's an accounting principle.
Bankruptcy is your word, and anytime you can pay, you should pay.
I know you're not in the White House briefing room, but most reporters probably have thoughts on this.
What does she think of Donald Trump opening the press room in the White House to social media and to podcasters and to catching up with the real world is how the poster describes it?
C-SPAN Watch: Keeping Eyes Out00:04:13
unidentified
You know, I think it's interesting because the way that a lot of people consume media is changing.
And I know that people are getting it from different platforms.
So, you know, I'm personally more, I'm always open to having more voices.
But also depends.
You know, I've noticed at times the Trump White House tends to call on people with more favorable questions first, but I think that every administration has their way of doing things.
This week, coming back to the week ahead in Washington, anything else you're watching for or a particular member you're interested in talking to this week on your beat right now?
unidentified
Ooh, that's a great question.
You know, I have a few people that I think I will keep an eye out for.
I'm interested in looking for moderates like David Valadeo who are really pushing the Medicaid push.
And on the Democratic side, I'll be watching all the oversight members.
I think Alexandria Casa-Cortez still hasn't said whether or not she wants to actually maybe try and go back to that committee to run for ranking members.
You can read all about it this week in Punchbowl News.
PunchBowl.news is where you can go.
Mika Solner, congressional reporter there, and appreciate you starting your week with us in the Washington Journal.
unidentified
Thank you.
Live Tuesday on the C-SPAN networks at 10 a.m. Eastern, the House meets for morning speeches and noon for legislative business.
Members will begin work on a bill to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America.
Lawmakers will also consider a bill that prohibits the Department of Homeland Security from funding higher education institutions that host nonprofit cultural and educational centers funded by the Chinese government.
At 8.30 on C-SPAN 2, Republican Representatives Rick Crawford, Jim Jordan, and Ronnie Jackson hold a press conference on the FBI's investigation into the 2017 shooting at a congressional baseball practice in Virginia that left several injured, including current House Majority Leader Steve Scalise.
Also on C-SPAN 2 at 10, the Senate returns to vote on House pass legislation to repeal a Biden administration EPA rule on reducing hazardous emissions from rubber tire manufacturing.
And on C-SPAN 3 at 10, Homeland Security Secretary Christy Noam will testify on Capitol Hill on the Trump administration's deportation policies and other priorities for her department while appearing before a House Appropriations Subcommittee.
Also at 10, Treasury Secretary Scott Besson will testify on President Trump's tariffs and economic agenda before a House Appropriations Subcommittee, the Secretary's first congressional hearing since his confirmation in January, live on the free C-SPAN Now video app.
All of these events are also online at c-span.org.
Mike said before I happened to listen to him, he was on C-SPAN 1.
That's a big upgrade, right?
But I've read about it in the history books.
I've seen the C-SPAN footage.
If it's a really good idea, present it in public view on C-SPAN.