Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., told Newsmax on Friday that Republicans are "threading the needle" and accumulating support for a wide-ranging tax bill to extend cuts passed in 2017, among other measures.
Asked about discussions with House Democrats about extending the 2017 tax cuts, Smith said on "Wake Up America" that Republicans are focused on getting the GOP in line, noting that "we can't lose one" member if they want the bill to pass.
"The discussions with Republicans, the plan … is to pass the permanency of the expiring Trump tax cuts with Republicans through reconciliation," Smith said. "And we've been having constant meetings."
Smith added that Republicans have "been preparing for this moment for two years. We've traveled to over 20 different states, had over 120 different meetings with small business owners, working families [and] farmers to develop those policies that will deliver, as the president just stated in a speech, for working families and will help grow the economy and help domestic manufacturing.
"These are all things that we are ready, prepared and will deliver on for the president to sign and make into law."
Smith said that Republicans face steep challenges getting the bill through the House.
"Threading the needle is going to be extremely difficult,"
he said. "We have the smallest majority in the House of Representatives in the history of this country. In just a few weeks will be 217 to 215. So if we lose one person, we may not have the majority. It's that close. And so we can't lose one in these votes."
Theodore Bunker ✉
Theodore Bunker, a Newsmax writer, has more than a decade covering news, media, and politics.
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