Sen. Ron Johnson has publicly stated his opposition to the House-drafted GOP megabill, highlighting the growing tensions within the Republican Party over its deficit-reduction measures. The House GOP bill, which seeks to cut spending by at least $1.5 trillion, faces resistance from key members like Johnson, who argues that the proposed reductions may be deferred for years, making them unlikely to materialize. In a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed, Johnson warned that the savings may never be achieved because the cuts are likely to be backloaded to the end of the 10-year budget window.
Senate Republicans have set the $1.5 trillion target as their ‘aspirational’ goal, but some, including Johnson, want to push for much higher cuts, aiming for a reduction of up to $6.5 trillion to return to pre-pandemic spending levels. During a closed-door meeting on Monday night, Senate Finance Committee Republicans reviewed the top lines of the House tax proposal, with Johnson remaining unimpressed. The ongoing debate has created uncertainty, as Republicans must navigate internal disagreements while trying to secure the necessary support for the bill’s passage. Currently, Republicans already have one no vote from Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), and if Johnson follows through on his threats, the party could lose only one additional senator, with several others being closely monitored, including Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Josh Hawley (Mo.).