WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 27: (L to R) Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) looks on during a press event to discuss their plans for tax reform, September 27, 2017 in Washington, DC. On Wednesday, Republican leaders proposed cutting tax rates for the middle class, wealthy and businesses. Key questions remain on how they plan to offset the trillions of dollars in lost tax revenue. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
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Obvious differences in House, Senate tax plan
02:54 - Source: CNN

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President Donald Trump has repeatedly called to repeal the individual mandate

Republicans in Congress fear Trump weighing in on tax policy late in the game

CNN  — 

President Donald Trump wants to see Republicans repeal the Obamacare individual mandate as part of their tax bill, Trump tweeted Monday morning from his trip to Asia.

“I am proud of the Rep. House & Senate for working so hard on cutting taxes {& reform.} We’re getting close! Now, how about ending the unfair & highly unpopular Indiv Mandate in OCare & reducing taxes even further? Cut top rate to 35 % w/all of the rest going to middle income cuts?” Trump tweeted.

The news comes as Senate Republicans begin their markup of their plan Monday afternoon and House Republicans plan to bring their bill to the floor for a vote later this week. Neither the House nor Senate bill repeals the individual mandate despite the fact some conservatives on Capitol Hill, such as Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, have been pushing for it.

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 15: House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) speaks as House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) looks on as speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on March 15, 2017 in Washington, DC. Speaker Ryan and House Republicans discussed the Amercian Health Care Act. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 15: House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) speaks as House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) looks on as speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on March 15, 2017 in Washington, DC. Speaker Ryan and House Republicans discussed the Amercian Health Care Act. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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Tax reform state of play: House heads toward vote

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated last week that repealing the individual mandate would save Republicans $338 billion over the next 10 years and would give them additional revenue to cut taxes. However, many Republicans worry that interjecting health care into the tax reform debate could imperil their tax effort.

This is not the first time Trump has suggested Republicans repeal the individual mandate in their tax bill, but Trump’s tweet Monday is yet another example of the President interjecting policy late in the game. Many Republicans have feared that they could write a tax bill only to have their effort shadowed by late-game commentary by Trump.