Republican lawmakers are considering allowing tax rates to increase for high-income earners as part of President Donald Trump’s agenda bill, according to an NBC News report.

This potential move, driven partly by a need to limit deficit spending and fund other priorities like immigration enforcement and military spending, marks a significant departure from the party’s long-standing commitment to tax cuts for the wealthy.

Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) confirmed discussions about higher tax rates for the affluent have taken place during Republican conference lunch meetings. “It’s just so fun to be a Republican these days, just to watch the transformation,” Cramer said, noting the growing populism within the party.

The shift in perspective is partly driven by changing electoral demographics. Republicans are increasingly attracting lower-income voters without college degrees, while higher-income and college-educated Americans are leaning towards Democrats.

Exit polls show voters earning over $100,000 favored Mitt Romney by 10 points in 2012 but preferred Kamala Harris by 4 points in 2024, while Trump won voters earning under $50,000 by 2 points in 2024, a group Obama won by 22 points in 2012.

Internal Party Debate

Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, remained open to the possibility of allowing the top tax rate to revert from 37% to its pre-2017 level of 39.6%. “I will listen to my colleagues. I haven’t made any decision,” Crapo told NBC News.

However, not all Republicans are on board. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) firmly rejected the idea, stating, “I think it is a mistake to raise taxes, and I don’t believe Republicans are going to do that.”

Read more at NBC News