All of which means that Republicans in Congress need to think of themselves as governing with an independent President—if they don’t already. This doesn’t mean joining Democrats as “the Resistance.” But it does mean acting on their own to fulfill their legislative promises with or without the support of Mr. Trump. If the President goes his own way, at least Republicans can point to votes for legislation that they put on his desk.
Start with the GOP’s main priorities after Labor Day, which include lifting the debt ceiling, funding the government, and passing a budget outline that sets the stage for tax reform. Congress needs to move on all of them no matter what Mr. Trump tweets from the sidelines.
On the debt ceiling, the smart political play is to pass an increase with GOP votes and move on. Some conservatives want to tie policy reforms to the increase, but Democrats know Republicans will get the blame if there’s a default on U.S. debt. GOP voters won’t care about the debt limit in 2018 if Republicans have enough other policy victories.
On funding the government, Republicans in Congress will get no benefit from a shutdown fight over building a border wall. Two-thirds of the country doesn’t support an expensive and largely symbolic wall, and even most Republicans who do won’t like a shutdown to pass it. The GOP should pass a budget that has as many of its priorities as possible, and more money for border enforcement ought to satisfy the immigration restrictionists. The physical wall is Mr. Trump’s personal preoccupation. He can veto a bill without it, but then he’d be responsible for the shutdown.
On tax reform, the White House and Congress are still working together because Mr. Trump is leaving the details to economic adviser Gary Cohn and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin. Mr. Trump could muck it up at any moment with a call for higher income-tax rates, but Congress will have to ignore it. Mr. Trump will have little choice other than to sign whatever Congress sends him if he wants the political victory, and he needs a win as much as Congress does.
Republicans also can’t count on Mr. Trump to provide them any political air cover for tax reform. Taxes were supposed to be the GOP theme during the August recess, but none of the speeches or TV appearances are breaking through because the President can’t give up the spotlight, even if he is hurting himself. The business community and Republicans in Congress will have to sell reform.
Legislative success—especially on tax reform—is the best way Republicans can protect themselves from any Trump undertow in 2018. They need a record to change the campaign subject from whatever the President is tweeting a year from now when he might be contemplating a political affair with Nancy Pelosi.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-divorces-the-gop-congress-1503616084