Republican Senators are flagging potential issues on President Donald Trump‘s one “big, beautiful” bill after it passed the House on Thursday.
Why It Matters
The bill touted by Trump is a key avenue for Republicans to push forward his agenda after his decisive election victory in November.
Conservative Republicans are historically in favor of deep budget cuts while central-leaning Republicans are more inclined to keep certain programs in place that could benefit the voters in their respective states.
House GOP lawmakers previously floated opposition to the bill surrounding the SALT cap, arguing that there needs to be “good faith” negotiations and not a strong-arming of a number.
A SALT cap limits state and local taxes that can be deducted from federal tax returns, according to Forbes, and has been most controversial in high-tax states like New York, New Jersey, California and Connecticut.
What To Know
Politico reported that numerous Senate lawmakers voiced hesitation about the bill as Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin said, “I’m hoping now we’ll actually start looking at reality.”
Johnson’s worry seems to be about potentially adding to the deficit as he elaborated, “I know everybody wants to go to Disney World, but we just can’t afford it.” The Wiscosin lawmaker also said that he could not be convinced by a threat to primary his seat over the bill.
“Listen, in the House, President Trump can threaten to primary, and those guys want to keep their seats. I understand the pressure. Can’t pressure me that way,” Johnson said.
Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky also voiced opposition to possibly adding to the national debt saying, “I think if you’re going to raise the debt ceiling $4 or $5 trillion, it indicates that the project afoot isn’t going to fix the deficit at all.”
“Once Republicans vote for this, Republicans are going to own the deficit,” Paul told Politico.
Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski also raised a flag about potential hits to Medicaid. “I have said and made clear that I do not want to take away Medicaid benefits,” Collins said, CNN reports. The lawmaker also noted that she will closely look through the House bill.
“There are some things that we want to address on the Medicaid side that I think are challenging for us in Alaska,” Murkowski said, Politico reports.
Leader Thune also told reporters on Thursday that he has spoken to Trump about the bill and says that senators will spend time reviewing it then put their “stamp on it.”
When asked about potential policy concerns in the bill, Thune told reporters in a transcript sent to Newsweek by his office in part, “Well, I mean, it’s- you all know this, because our members aren’t shy about telling you what they think. But you know, the sufficient spending reforms, you know, we’ve already discussed the SALT issue, obviously, there’s a difference of opinion about that over here.”
When asked about Medicaid concerns, Thune said, “Well, we’re, you know, we’re looking at what the House did and we’ve had a lot of conversations with our members, including one yesterday with the members of the Senate Finance Committee, to examine all the potential options there, and see what we think is, you know, a workable path to get to 51.”
Thune added, “And we want to do things that are meaningful in terms of reforming programs, strengthening programs, without affecting beneficiaries. So it’s a, I would say right now, still very active discussion, and one we’re going to continue.”
What People Are Saying
When asked for comment about the bill now being with the Senate, Republican Rick Scott’s office sent Newsweek his post on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday: “I am 100% committed to getting the President’s agenda done and balancing our federal budget. Families and businesses do it every day. Our federal government must, too.”
Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee on X on Thursday: “One Big Beautiful Bill and one mission: Make America Affordable Again.”
Trump on Truth Social on Thursday: “‘THE ONE, BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’ has PASSED the House of Representatives! This is arguably the most significant piece of Legislation that will ever be signed in the History of our Country! The Bill includes MASSIVE Tax CUTS, No Tax on Tips, No Tax on Overtime, Tax Deductions when you purchase an American Made Vehicle, along with strong Border Security measures, Pay Raises for our ICE and Border Patrol Agents, Funding for the Golden Dome, ‘TRUMP Savings Accounts’ for newborn babies, and much more!”
The president continued, “Great job by Speaker Mike Johnson, and the House Leadership, and thank you to every Republican who voted YES on this Historic Bill! Now, it’s time for our friends in the United States Senate to get to work, and send this Bill to my desk AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! There is no time to waste. The Democrats have lost control of themselves, and are aimlessly wandering around, showing no confidence, grit, or determination.
“They have forgotten their landslide loss in the Presidential Election, and are warped in the past, hoping someday to revive Open Borders for the World’s criminals to be able to pour into our Country, men to be able to play in women’s sports, and transgender for everybody,” Trump said. “They don’t realize that these things, and so many more like them, will NEVER AGAIN happen!”
What Happens Next
When asked by reporters what the ideal deadline would be to get the bill passed and if it’s realistic by July 4, Thune said, “That’s obviously been the goal and aspiration; we’ll see how it goes. What does it take to get to 51?”