GEOFF BENNETT: While some House Republicans have gotten on board with the updated budget bill, others still have concerns about the impact it will have on the national debt.

Amna spoke earlier with Congressman Mike Flood, who supports the bill.

Joining us now to discuss his opposition is Republican Congressman Ralph Norman of South Carolina.

Thanks for being with us, sir.

REP. RALPH NORMAN (R-SC): Glad to be with you.

GEOFF BENNETT: So Republican House leaders spent the better part of the day trying to shore up support from Freedom Caucus members like yourself.

President Trump invited you and your colleagues to the White House for direct talks.

What came out of those conversations?

Did they move the needle at all for you?

REP. RALPH NORMAN: Well, first of all, President Trump was very gracious with his time.

He told us some things we didn't know that were a reality, and he had his -- Russ Vought and others there to answer questions.

And he's been doing that all day.

He spent about two hours with us, very uplifting.

And we expressed our concerns and continued to do it throughout the day.

I just left a meeting with about 20 who were meeting with his staff.

And the ticking time bomb is debt.

And that's what one of the questions we had.

The other were the particulars, the Inflation Reduction Act credits, which were a problem, the illegal aliens voting, the able-bodied Americans who chose not to work and getting a paycheck.

All of that went into great discussion that started early this morning with the speaker.

And we will see how it goes.

But the first step is getting everything on the table and having questions answered.

And I think, in about another hour, the meeting should end and then we will see what the consensus is.

I don't see it coming on the floor if it doesn't have the votes.

So we will see.

GEOFF BENNETT: The White House is trying to defuse those deficit concerns you raised by focusing on growth.

The president, I think it was yesterday, posted on social media that: "Growth will make this one of the most successful pieces of legislation ever passed."

Are you persuaded by that optimism?

And there's the other question of, does the White House have their math right?

Because the CBO projects growth over the next decade at a 1.8 percent rate.

The White House is projecting it at a 2.8 percent rate.

REP. RALPH NORMAN: Well, in our reconciliation numbers we had, it's 2.6.

I don't trust the CBO.

At a budget meeting, they predicted that the influx of the illegals coming into this country under Biden was a net positive for the country.

That's just not true.

Yes, I trust the president with the tax cuts that are part of this reconciliation bill, no tax on tips, no tax on Social Security, the rapid depreciation on equipment.

He's bringing industry and manufacturing back to this country.

And, actually, I think that probably we will exceed 2.6.

I think the growth rate will be more like 2.8, 3.0 -- now, whether it's sustained over a long period of time.

But he's putting everything in motion, along with regulation cuts and other things that he is really focusing on, to grow in the economy.

And I think it will happen.

GEOFF BENNETT: So do you need to see future executive orders?

You need to see follow-on legislation aimed at addressing your concerns?

What's the specific path to getting you to yes?

REP. RALPH NORMAN: Just what he's doing.

He's answering questions on all of that.

And it wasn't just the time with President Trump.

But on through the afternoon, he's made all of his staff available to us to find out, if this thing moves forward, how is it going to play out?

What role is he going to play?

Because he's really implementing a lot of the things that are in the bill that we had problems with, which he answered.

And now it's just up to us to get those who are still on the fence.

And it's probably 50/50 still.

But I think in another hour or so we will have a lot of the questions answered.

And I think there are a lot of people trying to work for keeping the momentum going and giving President Trump a win on this.

And I was skeptical.

I was one of the two that voted in the Rules against it because we hadn't had the meetings that we have had.

And I see this as a pattern moving forward.

This president will have as many meetings as it takes to make sure this country is moving forward.

It starts with policies that hopefully are going to help that.

GEOFF BENNETT: On the matter of momentum, in your conversation with the president, was he still pushing his July 4 deadline, this arbitrary deadline that he set, knowing that the passage of time usually doesn't bode well for big pieces of legislation like this?

REP. RALPH NORMAN: You know, he wants that.

But, now, is it a line in the sand?

He just wants to know it's moving forward.

He just wants to answer every question.

And that's what he's good at.

And if it -- my impression is, just my opinion from the meeting and just overall what President Trump has said, if it goes into the first of the week, I think he's fine.

This is my opinion.

Now, if it goes on three to four weeks, no, he's got a problem with that.

And so - - but I don't think it's going to do that.

I think we will come to some conclusion hopefully this afternoon, later today, or in the morning.

GEOFF BENNETT: Beyond the questions about the process, the question here about the substance, because another major sticking point for some Republicans is Medicaid.

The Senate bill proposes even deeper cuts to Medicaid than was in the bill that the House initially passed.

And I saw this new Wall Street Journal analysis out today that found that the GOP now represents more Americans who rely on social safety net programs like Medicaid.

So how do Republicans justify voting for legislation that significantly reduces Medicaid that your constituents rely on?

REP. RALPH NORMAN: I don't buy that conclusion.

We're not cutting people off Medicaid.

We're making changes for waste, fraud and abuse.

Now, should a illegal that did not come into this country legally get a check from the government?

I would make the argument no.

GEOFF BENNETT: Undocumented immigrants already don't qualify for federally funded Medicaid.

REP. RALPH NORMAN: Well, they have ended up getting it, though.

They have been included under the Biden administration.

They have gotten by.

I don't care what the prints says.

They have gotten by with that.

And so that's to close that loophole.

The other thing is the FMAP and the percentage that the states get.

For every dollar that the states put in, we get $9 back.

That's money we don't have.

So it's getting money to those who deserve it.

And so I reject the liberals who are saying that it's cuts.

It's not cuts.

It's righting a wrong that's been existed -- for a long period of time.

And we're aiming to correct that.

GEOFF BENNETT: The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has said that the administrative hurdles, the work requirements, the having to submit paperwork every six months, that that could present a problem where people aren't able to do that, and they do fall off and don't get the Medicaid that they'd normally qualify for.

REP. RALPH NORMAN: Well, the CBO office is the same office that said that the influx of the 15 million in this country legally were a net positive to the economy.

That's just not true.

And any law is only as good as enforcement.

And the Biden administration had no reason to enforce it.

That's why you think they were letting them in here from over 160 countries.

The Trump administration has been in office, what, now, for four months, five months, and look what they have done.

They stopped the flow.

And now it's accountability is the best word I know to describe it.

And that applies not just to the agencies, but that's purpose of the DOGE commission.

And Americans got a front-row seat as to where their money was going.

And I don't think they liked it.

GEOFF BENNETT: Well, the debate certainly continues.

Congressman Ralph Norman of South Carolina, thanks for making time for this evening -- making time for us this evening.

We appreciate it.

REP. RALPH NORMAN: My pleasure.

Thank you.

GEOFF BENNETT: Be well.