Republican-backed legislation to temporarily boost the cap on state and local tax deductions cleared a key hurdle on Thursday, but the House Rules Committee vote portends tough sledding for GOP leaders to get the bill on the floor next week.
After an “emergency” meeting to consider the tax bill that began at 8 a.m. and featured a lengthy recess behind closed doors, Rules reported out a closed rule for floor debate on an 8-5 vote. GOP leaders attached a separate resolution critiquing President Joe Biden’s energy policies to the same rule, which may have helped shore up support.
Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, was the lone GOP defector on the rule in committee, and House Republican leaders have noticed the “SALT” bill as a possibility for the floor next week. But with Republicans’ margin down to potentially two votes next week due to absences, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and his whip team may have some convincing to do.
