Hill Republican leaders are slow-walking negotiations for a year-end budget deal with Democrats, adamant that tax reform must come first — even if the spending battle drags out until year’s end.

Democrats — and some top Republicans — believe Ryan and McConnell are stalling because they want to keep their restless conservative base in line during the tax debate. The tax cut package is critical to Ryan and McConnell, who are under intense pressure from President Donald Trump and their own rank-and-file Republicans to score some legislative wins.

But Democratic leaders are also pushing GOP leaders to negotiate on a Dreamer fix, threatening to vote against a spending deal without a solution for undocumented immigrants brought to the country as minors. With government funding running out on Dec. 8, it's clear at least one short-term funding resolution

Republicans — especially in the House — are worried such an accord would infuriate their right flank. And they’re loath to do anything to patch the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program without President Donald Trump’s blessing.

That’s why the White House, namely legislative director Marc Short, is also being looped in on the Big Four discussions.

The House GOP Conference is already smarting over Republicans’ failure to deliver on Obamacare repeal. A budget deal would be salt in those still raw wounds — especially if it’s not offset with spending cuts or the leadership agrees to includs a DACA fix.

GOP leaders are hoping that passing tax reform first, a huge legislative accomplishment they could sell back home, would put the conference at ease and give them more flexibility to reach a budget deal with the left.


What’s more, the spending increase may not be offset with cuts, making a budget deal an even tougher sell for conservatives.

Several of the House’s most conservative Republicans met with their chamber’s leaders Tuesday to voice opposition to a budget deal without spending cuts. Rep. Mark Walker (R-N.C.), who attended the meeting, said offsets are imperative to getting conservatives’ support.

“We just don’t want to get hosed on when it comes to not having offsets for these caps,” Walker said. “That’s a problem for us. … We would have a tough time” backing something without offsets.


https://www.politico.com/story/2017/...44957?lo=ap_c1