Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) publicly criticized Trump’s tax priorities on Thursday and expressed doubts about the House GOP’s recent substantial spending cut package. He argued that the goals set by his House colleagues were “too low” for meaningful savings.
“They kept mentioning $1.5 trillion, but honestly, they set the bar too low,” Johnson told reporters, referencing the minimum savings Republicans were aiming for in the package.
“The House’s goal seemed to be to pass one big, impressive bill. But, to me, that’s just rhetoric—false advertising. The focus should really be on reducing the average annual deficit,” he added.
Reporters also brought up a conservative member in the House who shared similar concerns but eventually supported the bill due to Trump’s pressure.
“In the House, the President can threaten primaries, and people want to keep their seats. I understand that kind of pressure,” Johnson noted. “But you can’t impose that on me.”
“We entered this fight back in 2010 because we were burdening our children’s future. That’s just wrong,” he stated.
“Our debt was at $14 trillion back then, and now we’re looking at $37 trillion. I don’t think they view this bill as very beautiful,” he added.
Extending the 2017 tax cuts, which are the basis of the legislative package, along with proposals against tips and overtime pay, is projected to add trillions to the national deficit over the next decade.
House Republicans have rolled out a series of proposals aimed at cutting federal spending by over $1 trillion in the upcoming years to offset those tax cuts.
While many House Republicans argue their tax proposals can finance themselves, analysts from the federal budget have estimated that the bill could increase the deficit by more than $2 trillion, not factoring in recent adjustments made this week. Nonpartisan think tanks suggest that the actual costs might be even higher.
The White House claims the bill won’t contribute to the deficit, while Republicans have expressed distrust in the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates for the bill’s cost. Still, some conservatives are insisting on further action to reduce the deficit, especially with national debt exceeding $36 trillion.
“Everyone supports tax cuts, but what happens when the Social Security Trust Fund disappears and we’re faced with $37 trillion in debt?” Johnson commented. “It’s like wanting to go to Disney World when you can’t afford it.”
“So, I think that’s the conversation we need to have in the Senate,” he said.
Trump is urging the Senate to expedite bill passage, particularly to meet summer deadlines and raise debt ceilings to avoid national defaults.
This proposed bill would authorize a $4 trillion increase in debt limits, allowing the Treasury to fulfill state expenses. Some Republicans advocate for higher limits to steer clear of clashes with Democrats as midterms approach, while others seek lower thresholds.
“I’ll support increasing the debt limit to give us a chance to focus on another major bill,” Johnson remarked.
“We won’t achieve preschool-level spending with a single massive bill, and the House has shown that,” he concluded.
