Trump and Republican senators plan agenda for first 30 days
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[December 04, 2024]
By LISA MASCARO and MARY CLARE JALONICK
WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump dialed in to what was
described as a “love fest” Tuesday with Senate Republicans as they begin
laying the groundwork for control of government in the new year, and a
potential first-30-days agenda.
Trump's brief call was more celebratory than a prescriptive policy
agenda, according to those attending the private GOP retreat,
encouraging the senators to confirm his Cabinet nominees as they launch
an agenda of tax cuts, deportations and other priorities.
"It was a love fest," said Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo. “There was a real
sense of unity in the room.”
The virtual visit comes as Congress is finishing up the final weeks of
what, by most measures, has been among the more chaotic sessions in
modern times. With the full sweep of party control, Republicans are
eager to do better next year with Trump’s return to the White House.
Republicans want to notch an early accomplishment in the first 30 days
after Trump’s inauguration Jan. 20.
Incoming Senate Republican leader John Thune of South Dakota outlined a
potential roadmap ahead during the private retreat at the Library of
Congress.

Thune detailed a potential two-part strategy that would have senators
working on an initial legislative package — energy, border security and
defense priorities — that could be approved in the first 30 days of the
new administration.
Next, Thune explained that the senators would turn to tax cuts —
reviving the expiring tax cuts from Trump's first term — which is
expected to take longer, dragging into the year.
The new Congress convenes Jan. 3, when lawmakers are sworn into office,
and the Senate expects to quickly begin holding confirmation hearings
for Trump’s top Cabinet nominees — some of whom are already running into
resistance.
Trump's choice of Fox News anchor Pete Hegseth as defense secretary and
hard-right FBI critic Kash Patel to lead the Federal Bureau of
Investigation face potentially difficult confirmation hearings ahead.
Hegseth, who met with senators late into Monday evening, was on Capitol
Hill for a second day Tuesday.
“It’s important that we thoroughly vet the nominees for these very
important positions,” said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.
House Speaker Mike Johnson also addressed the GOP senators — noting his
slim majority in the House, which leaves him little room for party
detractors.
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The U.S. Capitol Christmas tree is illuminated following the U.S.
Capitol Christmas tree lighting ceremony on the West Front of the
Capitol, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark
Schiefelbein)

Johnson “emphasized the need for unity heading into the first 100 days
agenda,” his spokesman Taylor Haulsee said.
Asked later about the details of the legislative package, Johnson said
lawmakers would be making those decisions in the next couple days.
“There are different ideas on what to put in the first package and what
in the second and we’re trying to build consensus around that,” Johnson
said.
Republicans have had difficulty uniting around the details of their
agenda, even when they control the levers of government in Washington.
In the House and Senate, Republicans plan to use a process called budget
reconciliation that would allow them to approve Trump's agenda on
party-line votes, with a simple majority, in the face of expected
opposition from Democrats.
But already fissures are developing over various tax and spending cuts,
and broader policies such as Trump's plans for mass deportations of
immigrants.
The Republicans are likely to shift federal funds to pay for building
Trump's proposed border wall between the U.S. and Mexico, and to hire
personnel to round up migrants for deportation.
“The goal is not just finish the wall, but to have technology that
really gives you eyes and ears on the border," said Sen. Lindsey Graham,
R-S.C. “Hire the people necessary to start the deportations of the bad
guys.”
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said debates over border policy could be as
thorny as those over taxes.
Congress is expected to work longer weeks, particularly in the Senate,
which often is not in session on Fridays.
“We are going to be here a bit more than we have,” said Sen. John Cornyn,
R-Texas.
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Associated Press writer Kevin Freking contributed to this report.
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