WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump is lobbying potential Senate holdouts in an effort to push through his sweeping tax plan, despite major concerns from multiple Republicans who fear the package's impact on the deficit and healthcare and a blistering rebuke from former DOGE leader Elon Musk.
The Republican president's second-term legislative agenda is on the line as the upper chamber is gearing up for a four-week sprint, during which they will seek to iron out concerns within the GOP conference and pass something that can also get through the House's narrow margins and onto the president's desk for signature into law.
It won't be easy. As in the House, the Senate has fiscal conservatives who are concerned that the bill will add to the federal deficit and moderates who have problems with the potential impact on Medicaid health coverage.
Appeasing one camp will be hard without inflaming the frustrations of the other, forcing Republican leaders to strike a delicate balance to get the votes they need, as no Democrats are expected to support the proposal.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters on June 3 that Republicans will "make some modifications to it, strengthen and improve it."
