Senator Eric Schmitt

We're going to be in a spending fight and a debt ceiling fight with the Democrats at the end. And if we haven't had any points on the board, it's just going to feel like I want to deliver early. And we're going to have leverage to get those tax cuts extended and make them permanent because they expire. So we have our own leverage on that to get that done. So my feeling is...

We're going to be in a spending fight and a debt ceiling fight with the Democrats at the end. And if we haven't had any points on the board, it's just going to feel like I want to deliver early. And we're going to have leverage to get those tax cuts extended and make them permanent because they expire. So we have our own leverage on that to get that done. So my feeling is...

Let's not empower Chuck Schumer to have any more leverage than we need to. Let's get this stuff done before March when we have that CR and debt ceiling fight and then continue to work on a second reconciliation package in the summer. Because worst case scenario, I just don't want to be in July and August not having got a lot of the stuff done that President Trump ran on.

Let's not empower Chuck Schumer to have any more leverage than we need to. Let's get this stuff done before March when we have that CR and debt ceiling fight and then continue to work on a second reconciliation package in the summer. Because worst case scenario, I just don't want to be in July and August not having got a lot of the stuff done that President Trump ran on.

Yeah, that's right. The House, at least right now, or what Speaker Johnson has articulated, although I'm not sure that's a uniform position in the House, but look, I'm sympathetic that it's not an easy task with a one to three vote majority over there on this stuff. But the argument for them is, hey, we won't get a second bite of the apple.

Yeah, that's right. The House, at least right now, or what Speaker Johnson has articulated, although I'm not sure that's a uniform position in the House, but look, I'm sympathetic that it's not an easy task with a one to three vote majority over there on this stuff. But the argument for them is, hey, we won't get a second bite of the apple.

We got to make sure we have everything in one so it'll provide maximum leverage to make sure everybody's getting what they want in one big bill. I will say, though, that I think the Senate, Senate Republicans are unified in our belief. And I'm not sure there's a dissenting opinion that we ought to break this up and let's get some early wins.

We got to make sure we have everything in one so it'll provide maximum leverage to make sure everybody's getting what they want in one big bill. I will say, though, that I think the Senate, Senate Republicans are unified in our belief. And I'm not sure there's a dissenting opinion that we ought to break this up and let's get some early wins.

And so, look, ultimately, this is President Trump's call. And I think we're we are all committed to getting this done and, you know, securing those wins. This is just a, you know, a strategic move. It's an ongoing discussion if it's one bill or two. We're all on the same team. And like I said, President Trump's the quarterback. He's ultimately going to make the call.

And so, look, ultimately, this is President Trump's call. And I think we're we are all committed to getting this done and, you know, securing those wins. This is just a, you know, a strategic move. It's an ongoing discussion if it's one bill or two. We're all on the same team. And like I said, President Trump's the quarterback. He's ultimately going to make the call.

But I think objectively the best strategy here is to get one border package done early and then let's deal with the other stuff later in the year.

But I think objectively the best strategy here is to get one border package done early and then let's deal with the other stuff later in the year.

Absolutely. Now, look, I came in in the 2022 cycle. I think one of the things that's also true is you have a younger group of members that have come in since 2018, really, that, you know, when Trump has been on the stage, I think it's transformed our conference in many ways to sort of America first. But Trump is, you know, it's not disputed at all that he's the leader of our party.

Absolutely. Now, look, I came in in the 2022 cycle. I think one of the things that's also true is you have a younger group of members that have come in since 2018, really, that, you know, when Trump has been on the stage, I think it's transformed our conference in many ways to sort of America first. But Trump is, you know, it's not disputed at all that he's the leader of our party.

And by the way, the reason we have 53 votes in the Senate and why we have a House majority and why we are the party of American workers now is We are a broad based party with great opportunities ahead. Now, one of the things that you guys did really well at Turning Point was that means with that broader base, we have more lower propensity voters. So we've got to make sure people show up and vote.

And by the way, the reason we have 53 votes in the Senate and why we have a House majority and why we are the party of American workers now is We are a broad based party with great opportunities ahead. Now, one of the things that you guys did really well at Turning Point was that means with that broader base, we have more lower propensity voters. So we've got to make sure people show up and vote.

But this is the path moving forward. And I do think in that room. Everybody understood the role that President Trump played for us to be in this very unique historical position where we have the House and the Senate and the White House to get this stuff done and deliver. So I don't think there's any disputing that at all. And I'm very much at home in this party, Charlie.

But this is the path moving forward. And I do think in that room. Everybody understood the role that President Trump played for us to be in this very unique historical position where we have the House and the Senate and the White House to get this stuff done and deliver. So I don't think there's any disputing that at all. And I'm very much at home in this party, Charlie.

I grew up in a working class blue collar neighborhood in the St. Louis area. And so to have our party now representing the people who do that hard work every day is exactly where we ought to be.

I grew up in a working class blue collar neighborhood in the St. Louis area. And so to have our party now representing the people who do that hard work every day is exactly where we ought to be.