Rep. Mark Sanford, right, is considering an amendment to the budget that would hasten the death of the so-called border adjustment tax. | Evan Vucci/AP Budget member could offer poison-pill BAT amendment

A Freedom Caucus conservative is threatening to go rogue at a House Budget Committee markup Wednesday by offering a poison pill amendment killing a central component of Speaker Paul Ryan’s tax reform proposal.

Rep. Mark Sanford (R-S.C.) is considering an amendment to the fiscal 2018 budget that would hasten the death of the so-called border adjustment tax. While the exact language is not finalized — indeed Sanford is not even sure he’ll pull the trigger — the proposal would be aimed at preventing the Ways and Means Committee from using the controversial tax increase on imports to finance tax cuts, a Ryan brainchild.


“Everybody says border adjustment tax is dead. I think it is, and it seems to be the prevailing viewpoint,” Sanford said in a brief interview Tuesday night. “But you still have the speaker of the House and the head of the committee of jurisdiction behind this. So, it's never over until its over.”

The amendment could cause a ruckus in the budget markup. While multiple budget sources say the committee is expected to easily pass the fiscal blue print, they acknowledged the amendment could easily create havoc.

For one, the idea on its face could be well received. Border adjustment, or “BAT” as tax wonks call it, is unpopular with the White House and most Hill Republicans — not only Freedom Caucus conservatives. While Ryan has been pummeled for the proposal time and time again, he and Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady, another BAT supporter, have been unwilling to drop the proposal.

POLITICO Playbook newsletter Sign up today to receive the #1-rated newsletter in politics Email Sign Up By signing up you agree to receive email newsletters or alerts from POLITICO. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

There are a number of members on the budget panel, including Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.), who are not fans of BAT. So voting down the Sanford amendment could prove awkward for them.

It’s unclear, however, that the amendment would even be made in order. Budget insiders have said the annual fiscal blue print is not supposed to include policy provisions such as these.

Budget Chairwoman Diane Black (R-Tenn.) would rather not test those bounds. During a meeting with several budget panel Republicans Tuesday afternoon, she asked them not to offer amendments to the budget — including Sanford.

Sanford acknowledges that it could be seen as “bad form” if he offers the amendment. That’s why he’s not yet decided what to do.

“I’m still working on it. Still thinking about it,” he said.