Republicans Debate Legislative Strategy for Trump Era

As Congressional Republicans prepare for President-elect Donald Trump's agenda, internal divisions are emerging regarding legislative priorities surrounding taxes, energy, and immigration. Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune advocates for a two-step approach that prioritizes border security and energy legislation in the first 30 days, followed by tax reform, but this strategy faces skepticism from key House Republicans, including House Budget Chair Jodey Arrington, who calls for broader input from GOP members. Thune's proposal includes contentious issues like mandatory defense spending, which may face resistance from fiscal conservatives. While many Republicans support swift action on border security, concerns about delaying tax legislation persist among the Ways and Means Committee members. In South Dakota, Governor Kristi Noem's budget proposal, which includes significant cuts and school voucher plans, is drawing criticism from the Democratic party and teachers' unions, highlighting the ongoing debates about public education funding. Overall, the GOP's strategy will need to navigate complex intra-party disagreements to effectively implement Trump's policy goals.