Tax bill faces opposition: WASHINGTON – Senator Ron Johnson, a Republican from Wisconsin, has strongly criticized a comprehensive bill backed by President Donald Trump, warning that it poses significant consequences for taxes, Medicaid, food stamps, and more. The bill, which passed in the House by a narrow margin of just one vote on May 22, is expected to add around $3.3 trillion to the nation’s deficit over the next 10 years and increase the federal government’s debt.
Johnson expressed his concerns in an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union,” stating that several Senate Republicans are ready to block the proposal due to its substantial price tag. “I think we have enough to stop the process until the president gets serious about spending reduction and reducing the deficit,” Johnson said. Despite Trump’s urging for Republicans to fall in line behind the bill, which includes several of his 2024 campaign promises, such as a temporary tax break on tips, several Senate conservatives remain unconvinced.
Johnson emphasized that this is an opportunity for the Senate to reset the country’s spending to a reasonable pre-pandemic level. “We have witnessed an unprecedented level of increased spending… This is our only chance to reset that,” he told CNN’s Jake Tapper. The senator called for a different approach that tackles the country’s deficit before he could support the bill.
Other Republican senators share Johnson’s concerns. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, for instance, is hesitant due to the bill’s inclusion of a $4 trillion increase in the debt ceiling. “I still would support the bill, even with wimpy and anemic cuts, if they weren’t going to explode the debt. The problem is, the math doesn’t add up,” Paul said on Fox News Sunday. It’s just, you know, not a serious proposal.
Still on Tax bill faces opposition
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, agrees with Paul’s concerns about the national debt. “I love his conviction, and I share it,” Johnson said. “The national debt is the greatest threat to our national security, and deficits are a serious problem.” However, he acknowledged that addressing the issue will take time, saying, “You don’t turn an aircraft carrier on a dime. It takes a mile of open ocean. And so, it took us decades to get into this situation. This is a big step to begin to turn that aircraft carrier.”
Several other Republican senators are also voicing their opposition, citing concerns over various aspects of the bill. These include:
– Medicaid Reforms: Senators Josh Hawley of Missouri, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Jerry Moran of Kansas are concerned about reforms intended to crack down on states’ use of health care provider taxes to receive more federal Medicaid funding.
– Clean Energy Incentives: Senators Thom Tillis of North Carolina, John Curtis of Utah, Murkowski, and Moran wrote a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a stable and predictable tax framework to promote domestic energy development.
– SALT Deductions: Senators Mike Lee of Utah and others are opposed to the deal struck by Speaker Johnson to raise the cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions from $10,000 to $40,000.
– Spectrum Auction: Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota is concerned about the proposal to auction off government-owned spectrum, citing national security risks.
These senators are calling for significant changes to the bill before they can support it. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has begun meeting with these senators to listen to their concerns and potentially make adjustments to the bill.
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