Jessica Mendoza

But the bill has gotten off to a rocky start, partly because it doesn't reduce the deficit. In fact, it increases the deficit. And that's annoyed some Republican hardliners, like Texas Congressman Chip Roy.

But the bill has gotten off to a rocky start, partly because it doesn't reduce the deficit. In fact, it increases the deficit. And that's annoyed some Republican hardliners, like Texas Congressman Chip Roy.

Before even heading to the House floor, Republicans in committee meetings have gone as far as temporarily blocking the bill. And while the party does have a majority in Congress, that majority is super slim. They can only afford to lose three Republican votes. And keeping the coalition together isn't easy. That's next.

Before even heading to the House floor, Republicans in committee meetings have gone as far as temporarily blocking the bill. And while the party does have a majority in Congress, that majority is super slim. They can only afford to lose three Republican votes. And keeping the coalition together isn't easy. That's next.

Before even heading to the House floor, Republicans in committee meetings have gone as far as temporarily blocking the bill. And while the party does have a majority in Congress, that majority is super slim. They can only afford to lose three Republican votes. And keeping the coalition together isn't easy. That's next.

Let's talk about the challenges that the bill has faced up to this point. What have the key holdouts been arguing?

Let's talk about the challenges that the bill has faced up to this point. What have the key holdouts been arguing?

Let's talk about the challenges that the bill has faced up to this point. What have the key holdouts been arguing?

Budget analysts have crunched the numbers, and they've found that if the bill were to be passed into law, the country's deficit would grow by about $2.75 trillion over the next decade. The four conservative holdouts say they want to see more aggressive spending cuts.

Budget analysts have crunched the numbers, and they've found that if the bill were to be passed into law, the country's deficit would grow by about $2.75 trillion over the next decade. The four conservative holdouts say they want to see more aggressive spending cuts.

Budget analysts have crunched the numbers, and they've found that if the bill were to be passed into law, the country's deficit would grow by about $2.75 trillion over the next decade. The four conservative holdouts say they want to see more aggressive spending cuts.

While hardline conservatives feel that the spending cuts don't go far enough, there are Republicans in Congress tugging in the other direction. Some have come out against the Medicaid cuts, saying it would take health care away from their poorest constituents. Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, usually an ally of the president, was one of those critics.

While hardline conservatives feel that the spending cuts don't go far enough, there are Republicans in Congress tugging in the other direction. Some have come out against the Medicaid cuts, saying it would take health care away from their poorest constituents. Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, usually an ally of the president, was one of those critics.

While hardline conservatives feel that the spending cuts don't go far enough, there are Republicans in Congress tugging in the other direction. Some have come out against the Medicaid cuts, saying it would take health care away from their poorest constituents. Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, usually an ally of the president, was one of those critics.

Other Republican members don't want the bill to cut the Biden clean energy credits.

Other Republican members don't want the bill to cut the Biden clean energy credits.

Other Republican members don't want the bill to cut the Biden clean energy credits.

And then there are Republicans from blue states, like New York and California. They're focusing on the state and local tax deduction, also known as SALT. It works like this. If you pay a lot of state and local taxes, you can deduct some of those from your federal taxes. But there's a cap on how much you can deduct.

And then there are Republicans from blue states, like New York and California. They're focusing on the state and local tax deduction, also known as SALT. It works like this. If you pay a lot of state and local taxes, you can deduct some of those from your federal taxes. But there's a cap on how much you can deduct.

And then there are Republicans from blue states, like New York and California. They're focusing on the state and local tax deduction, also known as SALT. It works like this. If you pay a lot of state and local taxes, you can deduct some of those from your federal taxes. But there's a cap on how much you can deduct.