Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is actively promoting President Trump’s “big beautiful bill,” which encompasses key legislative priorities. He is defending the bill against a wave of intra-party criticism regarding the extent of spending cuts, the significance of Medicaid reforms, and the reduction of green energy tax credits.
In a series of interviews, Johnson mentioned that he communicated through a “long text message” detailing the bill after the billionaire tech magnate expressed disappointment, claiming it undermined the cost-cutting efforts of the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge).
During his appearance on Cable News Blitz, Johnson addressed concerns raised by Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) about the bill’s implications for the deficit. He challenged the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office’s analysis, arguing that the benefits of the legislation outweigh its drawbacks.
Chairman Johnson aims to assuage conservative worries by promising swift passage of a bill that would slash billions from federal funding, reflecting some of Doge’s cuts.
“This isn’t the only settlement bill,” Johnson stated on NBC’s “Celebration Press” on Sunday. “There’s another budget adjustment bill that will follow, and next week we’ll initiate the government spending bill, beginning the appropriations process.”
The media coverage will intensify as the bill makes its debut in the Senate, where Republicans are poised to amend the substantial package, potentially jeopardizing the delicate support from the narrow majority in the House GOP.
Johnson is urging his Senate colleagues, both publicly and privately, to limit alterations to the bill.
On at least one matter, the Senate appears to be receptive.
Sen. Mark Wayne Mullin (R-Okla.), a former House member who has served as a liaison, indicated last week that he does not expect any adjustments to the $40,000 state and local tax (SALT) credit limit, a critical sticking point for House Republicans from high-tax blue states like New York, New Jersey, and California, with no Senate GOP advocates voicing support for changes.
“I don’t believe we can modify that,” Mullin said. “If you go below $40,000, I think it will create complications.”
The SALT deduction was a major concern as the bill moved to the Senate. Doubling the cap from $10,000 to $40,000 was a top priority for moderate House Republicans, yet there is no support in the Senate for this issue.
For now, the House holds the lead in the debate.
“In the Senate, we don’t have a stake in the fight. Zero,” Mullin stated. “However, the situation is different in the House, and I don’t think we should act rashly.”
While the SALT issue may be settled, the Senate still faces pivotal decisions on various high-stakes topics, including tightening spending cuts, modifying Medicaid reforms, or scaling back green energy tax credits.
Mullin mentioned that the entire Republican trifecta is well-coordinated throughout the legislative process.
“We’ve been in constant communication,” he said. “With the House, Senate, and White House all talking, I don’t foresee significant differences among us.”
However, to keep the House moving forward, Johnson must manage messaging and extinguish any dissent as the Senate scrutinizes the bill’s details.
This marks a significant shift for Johnson, who spent months navigating contentious discussions within the fractious Republican caucus over the extensive bill, celebrating on the House floor to gather necessary support before swiftly advancing it out of the chamber.
Although Johnson has reached his deadline for delivering the bill from the House following final negotiations, the wider Republican ecosystem is still evaluating what has been cut and what remains.
This led to Johnson’s communications being as much an educational campaign as an advocacy effort.
“This isn’t a spending bill. It’s a settlement package. We are readjusting the budget,” Johnson declared on “Meet the Press.”
“Next week, we’ll kick off the government spending bill, the appropriations process, and you’ll see many of Doge’s cuts and this new fiscal discipline reflected in Congress’s subsequent actions,” Johnson added. “So, this isn’t the end; it’s not comprehensive.”
Reiterating his commitment, Johnson promised prompt action this week on the White House package, which is anticipated to face scrutiny in Congress, marking the initial implementation of Doge Cuts. The $9.4 billion withdrawal package aims to reduce public broadcasting funds for entities like NPR and PBS, and for financing international development efforts.
Despite concerning budget forecasts indicating that the bill would add trillions to the national debt over the next decade, Johnson contends that budget analysts are not accurately measuring the economic growth resulting from tax cut extensions and other Trump policies.
“The President’s exceptional policies are fostering tremendous progress for this country. The initially controversial tariff policy is having a remarkable impact on the US economy,” Johnson argued, contrasting his views with those of many analysts who assert that tariffs can hinder economic growth.
Amidst the impending Senate battle, Johnson remains optimistic that the party can meet its voluntary deadline to implement the package by July 4th.
“They’ve consistently underestimated us,” Johnson remarked on Sunday. “I mean, I pledged earlier this year to advance it outside the House before the anniversary and was met with skepticism.”
“All the extraordinary benefits we are discussing must materialize swiftly,” he stated. “I’m confident the Senate will act appropriately and return it to us. We will all celebrate Independence Day with a grand jubilation by July 4th when it is signed into law.”
Al Weaver contributed.
Source: thehill.com