Maura Gillespie: One Bill Is the GOP’s ‘Best Chance’ for Budget Success

RUSH TRANSCRIPT:
LLENAS: “You talk about these behind-the-scenes conversations. Now, we really talk about a situation here where we can see a battle among Republicans, and that is about the budget and the fact that the president wants this one big, beautiful bill to take care of tax reform, defense, energy, all of it. The House budget coming out with, House Republicans coming out with $4.5 trillion here in tax cuts and $2 trillion in spending cuts over the next 10 years. Now this goes to the House floor for a vote. The house spiker, Mike Johnson, can only afford to lose one Republican to get the 218 votes he needs. What do you make of the likelihood that that can happen here by the end of the month?”
GILLESPIE: “I do think it was impressive they were able to get it out of budget. I think there were a lot of doubters they would even get to that point, but I do think in the words ways and means of chairman Jason Smith, it’s a good starting point, but there needs to be more to it because I don’t think that what that they currently put out is going to be able to cover all the president and the White House wants to accomplish. So there’s still a lot more to be done, and I think that’s where you’ll have this amendment process on the Senate side kind of countering as well. I do think doing it in one bill is their best chance because the majority is so slim on both the House and the Senate sides, so it’s really important that they corral all the members to support the ultimate bill and get it across the finish line.”