Sen. Johnson Compares 'Big, Beautiful Bill' to Titanic

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., said the House's reconciliation bill will not pass the Senate.

"The 'big, beautiful bill,' I think that's the Titanic," Johnson told Politico. "I think that's going down because I think I have enough colleagues in the Senate that this has resonated with, that say, 'Yeah, we have to return to a reasonable pre-pandemic spending.' "

Last week, Johnson told Newsmax he was "not particularly optimistic" about the bill or Republicans' ability to pass it by July 4, given "spending levels."

While congressional Republicans are trying to cut $1.5 trillion in spending, Johnson has pushed for a return to pre-pandemic levels of spending, which would amount to a $6.5 trillion cut.

Johnson said on Newsmax the federal government has reached an "unprecedented level of increased spending" after the COVID-19 pandemic and warned that Congress and the President Donald Trump administration must "get serious about returning to a reasonable pre-pandemic level, spending just like every American family would do, live within your means."

Johnson said Congress should pass smaller bills, including a permanent extension to the 2017 tax cuts and a short-term increase to the debt ceiling, Politico reported, though Trump has rejected that idea.

Johnson told Politico approving a "simple and rational" tax system would help calm economic uncertainties, which he blamed on spending and Trump's tariffs.

"The whole tariff, the whole trade war, has injected an enormous amount of uncertainty and instability," Johnson said to Politico. "We've got to calm that down."

• Sen. Johnson to Newsmax: Budget Bill Needs Spending Cuts
• Ron Johnson: Reduce 'Size, Scope, Cost of Government'