A key moderate Republican is balking over the IRA piece of the megabill after getting briefed on changes made to placate conservatives.
Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) said he’s “not happy” with the changes to the IRA tax credits and wouldn’t commit his vote as GOP leaders race toward a potential floor vote as soon as tonight.
“I think these things I’m hearing could end up killing a lot of projects that have been announced all over the country,” he told reporters after huddling with other moderates in Speaker Mike Johnson’s office.
“I’m waiting for final text on the manager’s amendment,” Garbarino said. “I have not seen it yet, but it was not what I had hoped it would be.”
Garbarino is a leading defender of some IRA tax credits. But he was in Italy over the weekend for Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration when GOP leaders agreed to a tentative deal with GOP hardliners to speed up the IRA tax credit phase out.
However, other moderates like Reps. Juan Ciscomani, Jen Kiggans and Mike Lawler left the huddle feeling more optimistic about both the IRA changes and about moving up Medicaid work requirements.
“There’s still things that are being worked through,” Lawler conceded. “Obviously you’ll have a final conferencing at some point.”
Energy Secretary Chris Wright phoned into the meeting to help “brainstorm” ideas as they near the release of new text for their mega reconciliation bill that could cut clean energy tax credits created by Democrats’ climate law, according to Ciscomani.
Garrett Downs contributed to this report.
