Rep. Ralph Norman, one of the four House Republicans whose initial opposition to the GOP megabill delayed its in the Budget Committee, said Monday he would not vote against it in the Rules panel later this week.
“Unless something changes … the body has a right [to consider it],” said Norman of his decision to vote at the Wednesday Rules Committee markup to let the massive package come to the chamber floor.
The South Carolinian’s decision signals that hard-liners are likely to let the final battle over whether the legislation lives or dies will be waged in the full House. GOP leaders can only afford a handful of defections but believe they’ll be able to lean on members to fall in line.
Another Rules Committee Republican who also has problems with the proposal in the Budget panel, Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, wouldn’t answer as to whether he would vote to pave the way for floor consideration of the bill.
GOP leaders are also still discussing if they can give themselves so-called same day authority to put the megabill on the floor Wednesday, assuming they can push it through the Rules Committee earlier that same day, according to three Republicans with direct knowledge of the matter.
The matter is largely falling on whether Roy will let that happen.
“That will be up to Chip,” said one House Republican involved in the talks.
Roy in a brief interview made clear he does not normally support same-day authority but declined to say how he would vote.
Mia McCarthy contributed to this report.
