36 House Republicans Urge Senate GOP Against Deficit Increase

More than three dozen House Republicans, led by Rep. Lloyd Smucker, have cautioned Senate GOP leaders against approving additional deficit increases or using budget gimmicks in the legislation that includes President Trump's tax cut and spending priorities. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, they emphasized that any further tax cuts must be offset dollar-for-dollar by real, enforceable spending reductions, which they regard as the minimum standard for their support. The group insists that offsets should come from permanent budget reforms rather than timing shifts or other accounting maneuvers. The Senate is currently reviewing the House-passed megabill that extends tax cuts signed by President Trump in 2017, increases funding for border security, deportation, and defense, and imposes new restrictions on Medicaid and food assistance programs, potentially causing millions to lose health insurance. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the proposed tax cuts would reduce revenues by more than $3.6 trillion over ten years, while spending cuts would reduce outlays by $1.2 trillion, resulting in a net deficit increase of $2.4 trillion. Signatories of the letter include key House leaders such as Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington, Republican Conference Vice Chair Blake Moore, and House Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris.