Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson is throwing a wrench into the Senate’s latest attempt to push through President Trump’s agenda.
The Hill reported that Johnson has publicly declared his opposition to a Senate bill that promises tax cuts, beefed-up border security, and increased defense spending, citing its failure to tackle the federal deficit, which is projected to soar past $2.2 trillion annually for the next decade.
Johnson isn’t alone in his dissent, as Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky has also voiced strong objections, particularly over the bill’s plan to hike the debt ceiling by a staggering $5 trillion in the Senate version, even more than the House’s already jaw-dropping $4 trillion increase.
“No,” Johnson said flatly when asked if the bill’s deficit reduction measures satisfied him. That single word speaks volumes about the growing unease among some conservative lawmakers who see the national debt—already set to grow by $2.4 trillion over a decade under the House version—as a runaway train that no one’s willing to stop.
The Senate Finance Committee, chaired by Idaho’s Mike Crapo, dropped a hefty 549-page document outlining the bill’s changes to the tax code and Medicaid, including harsher cuts to the program than the House proposed, with tighter eligibility rules and limits on how states can use health care provider taxes for federal funds.
These Medicaid changes are likely to stir up a hornets’ nest among critics who already view such cuts as a step too far, but for those of us wary of endless government overreach, it’s a necessary trimming of a bloated system. Still, the question remains whether this bill sacrifices fiscal responsibility for political wins.
“We’ve got a ways to go on this one,” Johnson remarked, signaling that the bill’s current form is far from ready for prime time.
His hesitation is a polite but pointed jab at Senate leadership, suggesting they’ve got some serious homework to do if they want to win over fiscal hawks who prioritize debt reduction over flashy policy promises.
With Senate Republicans holding a slim 53-seat majority, they can only afford to lose three votes if they hope to pass this legislation, even with Vice President Vance ready to break a 50-50 tie.
Johnson becoming the second GOP senator to publicly oppose the bill, alongside Paul, puts that narrow margin in serious jeopardy.
Paul’s critique is laser-focused on the debt ceiling hike, calling the House’s $4 trillion increase unacceptable, and the Senate’s $5 trillion bump is hardly likely to change his mind. For conservatives who campaigned on fiscal restraint, this kind of borrowing feels like a betrayal of core principles.
“No,” Johnson reiterated when pressed on whether he’d vote for the bill as it stands, a stark reminder that not all Republicans are willing to rubber-stamp party priorities at the expense of the nation’s financial health.
This standoff isn’t just about numbers on a balance sheet—it’s about the soul of the conservative movement, which has long preached the gospel of limited government and responsible spending, even when the temptation of tax cuts and border security looms large.
Johnson and Paul are holding a mirror up to their colleagues, asking if short-term wins are worth long-term pain.
As this Senate battle unfolds, it’s clear that the road ahead is rocky for a bill meant to embody President Trump’s vision, but with deficit hawks digging in their heels, Republicans may need to rethink their strategy to avoid a humiliating defeat.
The question is whether leadership can bridge the gap between bold policy goals and the hard reality of a nation drowning in debt, or if this bill will become another casualty of internal party strife.