WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has arrived on Capitol Hill to try to seal the deal on what he calls his “big, beautiful bill.” He will try to unify divided House Republicans on the multitrillion-dollar package that is at risk of collapsing before planned votes this week. The president has implored GOP holdouts to “STOP TALKING, AND GET IT DONE.” But negotiations are slogging along. It’s not at all clear the package, with its sweeping tax breaks and cuts to Medicaid, food stamps and green energy programs, has the support needed. With all Democrats opposed, the Republicans can handle only a few defections from their slim House majority.… Continue Reading

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans advanced their massive tax cut and border security package out of a key House committee during a rare Sunday night vote. Deficit hawks who blocked the measure two days earlier reversed course after gaining commitments on the package’s spending cuts. Speaker Mike Johnson was determined to make Friday’s setback a short one. He met with Republican lawmakers shortly before the meeting, telling reporters that changes agreed to during weekend negotiations were “just some minor modifications.” The Republicans who have criticized the measure noted that the bill’s new spending and the tax cuts are front-loaded, while the measures to offset the cost are back-loaded.… Continue Reading