Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

justaprogressive

(3,746 posts)
Fri May 23, 2025, 07:32 AM 7 hrs ago

'Couldn't care less if he's upset': Critical number of GOP senators now oppose Trump bill

U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) is blasting President Donald Trump’s budget reconciliation legislation that passed the House early Thursday morning. Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune will need to cobble together at least 50 votes to pass the massive bill that experts say will add trillions to the deficit, kick eight to thirteen million Americans off health care, gut Medicaid by $800 billion and Medicare by $500 billion, along with many other controversial provisions.

Fox News Senior Congressional Correspondent Chad Pergram reports that one MAGA Republican Senator, Wisconsin’s Ron Johnson, may be bucking the President and his “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”

“Johnson calls the Big Beautiful Bill ‘completely unacceptable.’ When asked if he thought that would upset the President, Johnson replied ‘I couldn’t care less if he’s upset. I’m concerned about my children. My grandchildren,'” Pergram wrote.

Senator Johnson’s issue appears to be not the millions who will lose health care, but the deficit. In other words, the bill, he believes, does not cut spending enough.


https://www.alternet.org/gop-senators-trump-bill/
13 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

Native

(7,078 posts)
6. John Kasich was being interviewed yesterday afternoon on msnbc, and he said the Senate is going to pass it.
Fri May 23, 2025, 09:10 AM
5 hrs ago

Wiz Imp

(5,084 posts)
7. Yes, but not the bill as currently written
Fri May 23, 2025, 09:16 AM
5 hrs ago

THis is going to force changes to the bill which will then need to be approved by the House. The end result is going to still be a terrible awful bill, but the exact specifics of how awful are not yet known.

ProudMNDemocrat

(19,634 posts)
3. ANY Senate Republican who votes in FAVOR of this bill will face backlash from their constituents.
Fri May 23, 2025, 07:44 AM
7 hrs ago

When the message is framed that it is TOO EXPENSIVE to provide basic services so that the UBER RICH can have more tax cuts. REVERSE Robin Hoods in the House and Senate.

Spread the word, people in ways people will understand them. This is PERSONAL now.

sop

(14,304 posts)
4. Strangely, Republicans no longer seem worried about voter anger and future election results.
Fri May 23, 2025, 07:53 AM
6 hrs ago

It's as if they know they'll be immune from the normal repercussions after fucking over their own constituents.

mopinko

(72,541 posts)
5. wake me up when it's time to vote.
Fri May 23, 2025, 09:03 AM
5 hrs ago

there were several in the house who talked tough, then fell in line.
and since they’ve decided they dont have to listen to the parliamentarian, dont expect the filibuster to save us.

Wiz Imp

(5,084 posts)
8. There is no filibuster for reconciliation so we already know that can't happen
Fri May 23, 2025, 09:19 AM
5 hrs ago

However, there is no question that changes will have to be made for the hardliners (especially Rand Paul & Ron Johnson) to vote for it. Exactly what changes they'll force are not yet known - they may well make it worse.

Wiz Imp

(5,084 posts)
11. yep.
Fri May 23, 2025, 09:35 AM
5 hrs ago

Some Republicans actually do object to the size of the medicaid cuts, but others like Johnson want spending cut by even more. Nobody is objecting to the size of the tax cuts for billionaires.

mopinko

(72,541 posts)
13. i'm old enough to remember
Fri May 23, 2025, 11:27 AM
3 hrs ago

when that party squealed like pigs at the slaughter over “xmas tree bills”.
it’s a sad state of affairs when we have to pin any kind of hope on rand paul.

Johonny

(23,683 posts)
9. My gut tell me, the only good things that help me
Fri May 23, 2025, 09:26 AM
5 hrs ago

In the house bill, will be the things they remove.

The Senate's job is to complete the fuck you, not to improve the bill.

Kick in to the DU tip jar?

This week we're running a special pop-up mini fund drive. From Monday through Friday we're going ad-free for all registered members, and we're asking you to kick in to the DU tip jar to support the site and keep us financially healthy.

As a bonus, making a contribution will allow you to leave kudos for another DU member, and at the end of the week we'll recognize the DUers who you think make this community great.

Tell me more...

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»'Couldn't care less if he...