Punchbowl News: “Republican leaders will attempt to pass this through the House in the next two weeks, if they can. It’ll be a challenge. No Republicans want to vote to lift the debt limit or slash agency budgets without some assurances of the final outcome. And the calendar makes it tougher. The House is in this week and next, and then members go on recess for another week before coming back on May 9. So time is of the essence.”
“The GOP leadership is making the argument that McCarthy’s hand will be strengthened in any upcoming talks with Biden if he can move a bill through the House.”
Playbook: “We heard the House GOP whip team was working the phones over the weekend — and feeling optimistic. The hope is that by unifying behind a plan and passing it in the coming weeks, McCarthy can strengthen his negotiating stance. But it’s still an open question whether 218 Republicans will come aboard; indeed, some moderates are already privately balking at including work requirements for Medicaid recipients.”
