GOP leaders struck an optimistic note Tuesday morning about their latest budget plan following a series of delays amid internal fighting — indicating it could get taken up in committee as soon as Thursday.
Speaker Mike Johnson said in a brief interview that he had “very productive” conversations Monday night about the new fiscal blueprint he has been circulating among key GOP factions. That plan — which would tee up a massive GOP-only tax, border and energy bill — would increase spending cuts but also leave less room for President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax policies.
“I’m very optimistic,” Johnson said as he entered a closed-door House Republican Conference meeting Tuesday morning.
Johnson and GOP leaders are still waiting for final Budget Committee feedback, and inside the meeting, panel Chair Jodey Arrington told members “we’re so close” on a final budget blueprint.
Notably, Johnson didn’t share his plans before the Tuesday morning meeting with a wider group of hard-liners, according to two people familiar with the plans. Majority Leader Steve Scalise said in a brief interview earlier Tuesday morning that Arrington “is talking to his members to continue to get there” about the new plan and cited “good progress” on Monday night.
Arrington told reporters Tuesday morning that his panel would mark up the new plan this week. “But I can’t tell you if it’s Thursday or Friday,” he added.
Asked about Arrington’s comments about a Thursday markup, Johnson said, “That’s the plan,” in a brief interview leaving the meeting. He said he was planning to meet with Budget Committee members later Tuesday morning.
