Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) mentioned on Sunday he’s optimistic about Republican governance over the approaching 12 months, saying the GOP is unified in passing a single reconciliation package deal and delivering on President-elect Trump’s “America first” agenda.
In an interview on NewsNation’s “The Hill Sunday,” Gonzales praised Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who was simply reelected to his high-ranking submit after receiving Trump’s endorsement.
“The majority in the House is going to be razor thin. Here very soon, it’s going to be 217 to 215. That means one member can change things,” Gonzales mentioned within the interview. “But Mike Johnson is here to stay, and one of the reasons he’s here to say is he’s been able to work with President Trump to deliver that first America plan and agenda. And I’m very optimistic.”
Gonzales mentioned that over the approaching 15 days, Republicans will work collectively to craft a legislative package deal to ship Trump’s high priorities on “day one.”
“For too long, we’ve talked about the problem, and we haven’t solved the problem. And that’s exactly what House Republicans are going to do under Mike Johnson’s leadership. These next 15 days, we’re going to go to work, and we’re going to tee up … a package that’s ready to go for President Trump on day one,” he mentioned.
On whether or not he thinks there’s an opportunity the reconciliation package deal might be watered down due to the razor-thin margins, Gonzales mentioned, “Members will argue over what color the sky is, right? So, of course, there’s always going to be back and forth of, ‘It’s gone too far,’ ‘It hasn’t gone far enough.”
He mentioned, nevertheless, that he is “very optimistic about next year,” pointing to the success of Saturday’s Republican convention assembly, which Gonzales mentioned showcased Johnson’s robust management abilities.
“I believe we’re targeted on one package deal, and that is what President Trump needs, finally, needs to recover from the end line. However I would say this, look, it is laborious sufficient to get members of Congress to indicate up on a Monday. To get them to indicate up on a Saturday takes an act of God in some circumstances. I used to be very optimistic.
“You got to give a lot of credit to Mike Johnson and his team. Yesterday, it was well attended. It was well organized. We actually got information out from it. We were unified… You have the majority of the conference was there on a Saturday, meeting with senators, essentially saying, hey, what do we have to do to tee it up so that way this America first agenda can get off the finish line on day one?”
Gonzales mentioned Senate Majority Chief John Thune (R-S.D.) was current on the assembly on Saturday and mentioned he’s assured that Thune is in step with Trump, simply as Johnson is.
“I do. I do,” Gonzales mentioned when requested whether or not Thune is “in lock step” with Trump. “For a couple of different reasons. One, I met with John Thune yesterday. Leader Thune yesterday. He had a lot of very insightful things to say. The way I view the world, Blake, is government should have a limited view, but an effective piece of our society. And I think John Thune views it the exact same way.”
“So, if we can have the House, the Senate and the presidency line up and deliver for the American people, that’s why we won this mandate. That’s why we won this. Is it going to be easy? No, of course not,” he mentioned.
Gonzales added that the Senate has a three-seat majority and, subsequently, has extra respiratory room to get issues by way of.
“It’s easier for them than us,” Gonzales mentioned. “So, I think many things in the House are going to start. Thankfully we have Mike Johnson’s leadership that’s going to get us all together.”
