Michael Whatley, the chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC), urged Senate Republicans to proceed with House-approved spending bills, despite some hesitations from the Senate.
“We’ve seen some big and beautiful bills pass already,” Whatley mentioned during his Sunday visit on John Cats Roundtable, a WABC 770 AM radio show.
“I think there’s still time to debate next month on what needs to be done to finalize this bill,” he continued.
He pointed out that the bill’s success could set the stage for the party heading into the 2026 midterms.
“There’s a five-seat majority at home for the [2026] election. It’s historically unusual for either party to tackle an election under such conditions. We’ve got our work cut out for us,” Whatley acknowledged.
“But if the economy stays strong, Republicans remain united, and Democrats keep missing the mark, then we’ll likely be in a position to strengthen our majority in the House and maintain our presence in the Senate,” the RNC Chair elaborated.
However, some Senate Republicans have indicated they are not fully on board with the bill as it currently stands.
For instance, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has raised concerns over Medicaid reforms, while Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY.) has questioned the proposed increased debt ceiling. Other senators have also voiced worries regarding potential cuts to Medicaid.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), and former President Trump are all advocating for senators to swiftly approve these “big, beautiful bills.”
“It helps avoid significant tax increases and fosters a more favorable regulatory environment. Plus, it substantially reduces government waste. Sure, it’s not perfect. But it’s worth noting that we’ve managed balanced budgets for four consecutive years for the first time in a century,” he stated.
“We need to push through these challenges. We’ll do our best this year and aim for a solid budget bill come fall, but we have to keep the momentum going.”
