Senate Eyes Changes to 'Big, Beautiful Bill' Despite Plea From Speaker Johnson

What Happened?

House Speaker Mike Johnson said over the weekend he made one plea to Senate Republicans as they prepare to work on efforts to help pass President Donald Trump’s massive budget bill.

After speaking with Fox News on Sunday, Speaker Jonhson said he asked congressional leaders during the Senate Republican luncheon, to not make large changes to the measure.

Johnson stated he 'encouraged them to modify the package that we’re sending over there as little as possible because we have to maintain that balance.'

It points to the narrow margin of support in the House that passed the bill last week by one vote.

Jonhson and Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky went tick-for-tack on Sunday over spending cuts and the national debt in Trump's 'big, beautiful bill.'

Sen. Paul called the spending cuts in the current version of the bill 'wimpy' as Johnson tried defending it.

'To get it through the Senate and make sure we don't crash the U.S. economy and default on our debts for the first time in history, it has to be part of the reconciliation package,' Johnson told Fox News.

Johnson suggested Paul's biggest objection to the bill is that the debt ceiling is being extended.

'That's a critically important thing to do. We have to do it. We're not going to get any Democrats to assist on that,' Johnson added.

Why it Matters

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) expressed last week when discussing the bill that 'the Senate will have its imprint on it.'

Although Trump praised Johnson and House GOP members for passing the bill, it was met with strong resistance from every House Democrat along with two House Republicans.

The more than 1,000 pages of legislation and 42 pages of amendments now head to the Senate for final passage which appears shaky.

Senate Republicans have voiced plans to reject the 'big, beautiful bill' without seeing major changes.

No tax on tips, no tax on overtime, strong border security measures, and tax deductions when an American-made vehicle is purchased are some of the examples Trump has pointed out in support of this bill.

However, many congressional members are worried about two major programs being put at risk in the current draft.

Millions of Americans could lose access to vital federal benefits such as Medicaid and food stamps as part of efforts to cut nearly $1 trillion.

Senate Republicans had assured a dozen House conservatives they would pursue $1.5 trillion in savings before approving the plan.

GOP holdouts previously threatened that they wouldn't support any Republican plan that doesn’t tackle the nation’s growing debt deficit.

Johnson had told reporters that the House was committed to finding at least $1.5 trillion in savings while preserving essential programs.

President Sharon Parrott of the nonpartisan research and policy institute at The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) believes this bill in its current state 'fails the country.'

Parrot and others have suggested that the Senate must reject the bill and any legislation that raises costs on families, takes health coverage or food assistance away, or drives up poverty and the number of uninsured people.

How it Affects You

GOP lawmakers in support of the current bill insist their proposed cuts to Medicaid and food stamps would largely affect 'able-bodied' adults.

Roughly 15 million people could lose health coverage by 2034 without extensions to enhance premium tax credits for Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace coverages.

Millions, including 2 million or more children, can also lose food assistance or have their food assistance taken away.

It's a reality that experts say includes senior citizens, and people with disabilities that the GOP has promised to protect.

Trillions of dollars would still be added to the nation's debt deficit over the next decade experts have pointed out.

As criticism grows over tax cuts for the wealthy, the bill in its current form could worsen the nation's long-term fiscal plan and increase further economic risk.

Those like Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin reportedly believe this could be our only chance to reset the market to a reasonable pre-pandemic level of spending.