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House Republicans attended a retreat in Florida this week, looking to find unity for a path forward to achieve Donald Trump’s ambitious agenda.
“Rudderless” was a term being thrown around by several members to describe the futility of the meeting. The caucus couldn’t even decide on whether the passage of Trump’s agenda should be in one bill or two.
Budgetanddeficithawksaredrivingtheconversation.Sofar,HouseSpeakerMikeJohnson(R-La.)isn’timpressingmanyofthem.
Johnsonneedsalmostalloftheirvotes.Thecurrentpartybreakdownis218Republicansto215Democrats,withtwovacantseats.ElectionsinreddistrictstoreplacerecentlyconfirmedUNAmbassadorRep.EliseStefanik(R-N.Y.)andRep.MichaelWaltz(R-Fla.),soontobeconfirmedasnationalsecurityadvisor,willtakeplaceinafewmonths.Untilthen,Johnsonhasarazor-thinmarginofthreevotes.
“Thereisafeelingthatwe’rerunningoutoftime,”Rep.RalphNorman (R-S.C.),aFreedomCaucusmember,toldTheHill.“There’safeelingthatwe’vegottocometogetherandwhateverittakestogetthetoplinesdone.”
BeforeTrump
