President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” is facing an uphill battle from Republican members of Congress, according to a Washington Post report.
The list of “redlines” or “no-go's” from GOP members is growing and includes Medicaid, the state and local tax deduction cap, taxes and fees, a return to 2019 spending levels, the debt limit, and the deficit.
A dozen House Republicans warned Johnson in a letter last month that they “cannot and will not support a final reconciliation bill that includes any reduction in Medicaid coverage for vulnerable populations.”
However, there are more than just those dozen who won't vote for Medicaid cuts. “There’s about 25 people that have real concerns, but I know there’s eight to 10 that are serious as a heart attack about this,” Congressman Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) told the outlet.
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Congressman Kevin Massie (R-KY), who is known on Capitol Hill for wearing a debt clock on his suit jacket, won't be voting for a bill that increases the deficit.
“I’m looking at what is the debt 10 years from now compared to what is it now,” Massie said. “There’s actually almost no chance in hell I’m going to vote for this, because there’s no chance in hell they’re going to be fiscally responsible."
Another issue for GOP House members is how much Americans can deduct in state and local taxes on their federal returns. At least five GOP lawmakers won’t be voting to extend the 2017 tax cuts unless the $10,000 cap is lifted.
Meanwhile, in the Senate, Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) won't be voting for increased fees or tax increases.
Sen. Ron Johnson said he won’t be voting for a bill that doesn't return government spending to what it was in 2019.
Lastly, Sen. Rand Paul won’t vote for a bill that increases the debt limit by $5 trillion.
These redlines will make it even harder for speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Senate majority leader John Thune (R-SD) to draft a bill that can pass both chambers before Johnson’s deadline of Memorial Day.