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Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson (R) says he cannot support the Senate bill to enact President Trump’s agenda to cut taxes, secure the border and boost defense spending because it doesn’t do enough to reduce the federal deficit, telling reporters he’s a “no” on the legislation.
Johnson said the bill needs a lot more work after the Senate Finance Committee released 549 pages of text covering changes to the tax code and Medicaid.
Senate Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) went beyond the House in cutting Medicaid spending by further tightening eligibility requirements and restricting states’ use of health care provider taxes to receive more federal funding.
But Johnson says the bill doesn’t go far enough to cut the federal deficit, which is projected to exceed $2.2 trillion annually over the next decade.
Asked if he’s satisfied with the level of deficit reduction in the bill, Johnson replied: “No.”
“We’ve got a ways to go on this one,” he said.
Asked if he would vote for the legislation as drafted if it came to the floor, Johnson responded bluntly: “No.”
The Congressional Budget Office projected the House-passed version of the bill would add $2.4 trillion to the national debt over the next decade.
Johnson is the second Republican senator to say he’s a “no” on the bill.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) says he can’t support the legislation if it raises the debt ceiling by several trillion dollars. Paul said the language in the House-passed bill to increase the debt limit by $4 trillion is unacceptable to him.
The Senate version of the bill would raise the debt limit by $5 trillion.
Senate Republicans have a 53-seat majority and can only afford three defections and still pass the bill. Vice President Vance would cast a tiebreaking vote in the case of a 50-50 deadlock.
