As a result, Senator Ron Johnson has emerged as an unlikely hero and stalwart critic of the current GOP budget bill. He fervently opposes its potential to add to the national debt and harm the prosperity of future generations. Here’s what Johnson had to say on that dangerous appearance on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” He suggested breaking the bill into two bills and reiterated that he wants to see a lot of changes before he can support the bill.
Johnson described the spending bill as “grotesque” and stated, “This is immoral, what us old farts doing to our young people.” His comments are a clear signal that the party’s fiscal conservatives have hit their breaking point. They’re particularly alarmed by the Congressional Budget Office’s projection that the bill will increase the national debt by $2.4 trillion over the next ten years.
The Republican Party’s majority in the Senate is indeed razor-thin, resting at that same 53-47 Republican split. This suggests that Johnson and the other Republicans dissenting from this deal are the only ones whose loss would sink the bill if it were to pass party-line. At the same time, Johnson is confident that he will have the support of enough Republican senators to block the bill. He is adamant this will be the case without substantial changes.
In light of Elon Musk’s recent criticisms of the spending bill, Johnson asserted that Musk’s voice adds credibility to their concerns. He remarked, “Let’s discuss the numbers, and let’s focus on our children and grandchildren, whose futures are being mortgaged.” Johnson passionately argues that our current fiscal policies undermine the future of younger generations. We hope he will once again make their interests his top priority, above all else.
Johnson’s early pledge to vote against the bill without significant changes highlights his fierce resolve on this issue. He stated, “I can’t accept the scenario, I can’t accept it, so I won’t vote for it unless we are serious about fixing it.” He added that “the president and Senate leadership has to understand that we’re serious now.”
Discussions among GOP insiders are getting hot over the killer provision. Johnson expressed the same concerns as other fiscal hawks that the bill would add to the national debt. He reiterated his loyalty to his family, saying, “We want to see [Trump] succeed, but again, my loyalty is to our kids and grandkids.”
Johnson’s honest statements represent an important moment for Republican leaders. To do so, they’ll first need to address rifts within their own ranks over spending priorities and maintaining Democratic cohesion. As negotiations continue, we’ll have to wait and see how Johnson’s inauspicious stance will affect the ultimate trajectory of the legislation.