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
59 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Senator Ron Johnson, a Republican, just announced he plans to kill Donald Trump's big beautiful bill. (Original Post) Swede May 24 OP
Why? Isn't it fascist enough for him? Ocelot II May 24 #1
Seriously, I think you nailed it. He probably wants to get rid of Medicaid completely, remove the increase JohnSJ May 24 #8
I remember what a shock it was PatSeg May 24 #40
Yes. Like Massie in the House, his objection isn't that the tax cuts are increasing the deficit too much Wiz Imp May 24 #33
Pishaw! Bayard May 24 #2
Call his office and tell him to defeat of this cruel and sadistic bill vapor2 May 24 #3
If someone does that, he will do just the opposite. Johnson is a very cruel person. The only reason he would JohnSJ May 24 #5
Sure, they will talk tough for a while and then they'll cave in Walleye May 24 #4
He's after something for himself radical noodle May 24 #6
Ron Johnson thinks it doesn't hurt average Americans enough, and it doesn't benefit the wealthy enough. sop May 24 #7
He won't vote for it 'in its current form' peggysue2 May 24 #9
Absolutely, and no one should be surprised if he suceeds. JohnSJ May 24 #11
Plus some pet projects for his state. underpants May 24 #14
Anyone who thinks this is good news is only deluding themselves. It will even make a more deplorable bill JohnSJ May 24 #10
Ronald has to decide if fealty to trump is more important than his career as an elected official. Snarkoleptic May 24 #12
WRONG. His objection is the bill doesn't cut spending enough. In other words, it needs to be MORE cruel. Wiz Imp May 24 #56
Are there many Medicaid recipients in WI? Or do they not vote? All the Ron Johnsons should allegorical oracle May 24 #59
So he's pulling a Manchin. C_U_L8R May 24 #13
Sure Jan.. .. Lovie777 May 24 #15
Did ronnie grow a spine? spanone May 24 #16
He might just be angling for something in his own self-interest. ananda May 24 #17
Spoiler alert: He will vote for it in the current form Prairie Gates May 24 #18
Wanna Bet? No way he does. Wiz Imp May 24 #38
Bullshit. He'll cave like they all do - always. hatrack May 24 #19
WRONG. He will NOT vote for the bill unless it cuts more spending. Wiz Imp May 24 #41
"He won't vote for it 'in its current form'" J_William_Ryan May 24 #20
It is even possible the whole thing was destined to fail, valleyrogue May 24 #21
Totally disagree gab13by13 May 24 #24
I'm not sure you understand. Johnson wants to kill many MORE millions to benefit billionaires. Wiz Imp May 24 #42
Just like they would never actually kill Roe? NYC Liberal May 24 #58
If Collins and Tillis join Johnson, that's a wrap. Fiendish Thingy May 24 #22
They will pass a bill, unfortunately I think it will even be more deplorable than the one the House did. JohnSJ May 24 #26
I don't Fiendish Thingy May 24 #29
I hope you are right Fiendish. The House bill as it is, is a disaster where a lot of people will get hurt, and JohnSJ May 24 #39
Enough with this garbage Fetterman would not vote for this bill in a million years. Wiz Imp May 24 #43
All it takes is a phone call from Trump dalton99a May 24 #23
Bingo. gab13by13 May 24 #25
Zero chance he holds to this or Eliot Rosewater May 24 #27
He absolutely will stick with this. He is demanding MORE cuts to spending and he's not backing down. Wiz Imp May 24 #44
Just give him a little more cowbell on the cruelty side and he'll be fine BeyondGeography May 24 #28
It probably doesn't give enough money to Russia Renew Deal May 24 #30
Yeah, he's gonna kill it. Right up until he gets his call from Trump. rsdsharp May 24 #31
Nope. He's demanding MORE spending cuts and he's not backing down. Wiz Imp May 24 #45
When Trump tells him to jump, he'll ask "how high" on the way up. rsdsharp May 24 #49
Nope. He's not gonna back down. Wiz Imp May 24 #53
A Republican with a spine? Sogo May 24 #32
It's not spine. He want's significantly MORE spending cuts Wiz Imp May 24 #46
Words are one thing, actions are another sakabatou May 24 #34
This made me laugh out loud JoseBalow May 24 #35
Sorry. He's not gonna back down. Only he can't kill it on his own. Wiz Imp May 24 #47
LOL! JoseBalow May 24 #51
Ssomething changed with him Figarosmom May 24 #36
He effectively wants ALL government spending zeroed out. The tax cuts for billionaires are A-OK Wiz Imp May 24 #50
In other words, he is looking for bribes. Emile May 24 #37
Yes a big beautiful bribe cutroot May 24 #55
He's moving in with Putin. milestogo May 24 #48
I heard him badmouthing the bill about a month ago on FAUX senseandsensibility May 24 #52
Completely FAKE headline. Wiz Imp May 24 #54
It will take Chip Roy level cruelty & selfishness for him to vote for it. nt Hotler May 24 #57

Ocelot II

(126,319 posts)
1. Why? Isn't it fascist enough for him?
Sat May 24, 2025, 11:14 AM
May 24

But Ron is the second-stupidest member of the Senate (narrowly edged out by Tuberville), so who knows where he's going...

 

JohnSJ

(98,883 posts)
8. Seriously, I think you nailed it. He probably wants to get rid of Medicaid completely, remove the increase
Sat May 24, 2025, 11:32 AM
May 24

in the SALT deduction, and get rid of more programs that help the working poor.

You can be that it isn't to remove the tax breaks for the wealthy.

He is one of the most diabolical sadists in the Senate. Not a good person at all.

Shame on Wisconsin for electing him, and for throwing out Russ Feingold many years ago.



PatSeg

(50,678 posts)
40. I remember what a shock it was
Sat May 24, 2025, 01:44 PM
May 24

when he beat Russ Feingold, one our best senators. So disappointing.

Wiz Imp

(6,293 posts)
33. Yes. Like Massie in the House, his objection isn't that the tax cuts are increasing the deficit too much
Sat May 24, 2025, 01:37 PM
May 24

It's that he thinks absolutely EVERYTHING else should be cut to reduce the deficit, while maintaining the tax cuts.

Bayard

(26,186 posts)
2. Pishaw!
Sat May 24, 2025, 11:16 AM
May 24

They'll tweak a few things and he'll knuckle under like the rest, while telling his constituents that, he tried.

 

JohnSJ

(98,883 posts)
5. If someone does that, he will do just the opposite. Johnson is a very cruel person. The only reason he would
Sat May 24, 2025, 11:27 AM
May 24

be opposing it is because it doesn't hurt enough people.

He probably want all poor not to receive any medicaid.

Walleye

(41,556 posts)
4. Sure, they will talk tough for a while and then they'll cave in
Sat May 24, 2025, 11:26 AM
May 24

I remember Trump’s call to the Georgia Secretary of State after the 2020 election. We heard part of it but it actually went on for an hour. Can you imagine having that in your ear, you’d say yes just to shut him up. I was reading that the recalcitrant legislator gets taken into their cloakroom and given a cell phone with Trump yelling on the other end and that’s how they get them on their side. They are all cowards

sop

(15,333 posts)
7. Ron Johnson thinks it doesn't hurt average Americans enough, and it doesn't benefit the wealthy enough.
Sat May 24, 2025, 11:32 AM
May 24

I'd like to see a few Republicans come out and say they won't support the bill because it hurts average Americans too much, and benefits the wealthy far too much.

peggysue2

(12,060 posts)
9. He won't vote for it 'in its current form'
Sat May 24, 2025, 11:33 AM
May 24

Which means he'll be willing to cut social programs and safety nets down to nothing.

Because tax cuts for the filthy rich.

underpants

(191,738 posts)
14. Plus some pet projects for his state.
Sat May 24, 2025, 12:09 PM
May 24

But hey, that’s how politics/governance usually works.

 

JohnSJ

(98,883 posts)
10. Anyone who thinks this is good news is only deluding themselves. It will even make a more deplorable bill
Sat May 24, 2025, 11:34 AM
May 24

worse.


Snarkoleptic

(6,170 posts)
12. Ronald has to decide if fealty to trump is more important than his career as an elected official.
Sat May 24, 2025, 11:35 AM
May 24
https://www.kff.org/interactive/medicaid-state-fact-sheets/

1,278,000 children and adults are enrolled in Wisconsin Medicaid, which will be crushed.

Wiz Imp

(6,293 posts)
56. WRONG. His objection is the bill doesn't cut spending enough. In other words, it needs to be MORE cruel.
Sat May 24, 2025, 02:17 PM
May 24

That kind of attitude seems to be admired by the MAGA base. And he can stick to his principles and vote against any bill that doesn't cut enough, without killing it by himself which I expect him to do. Remember, they need 4 no votes to kill it so Johnson by himself is not going to be considered a huge problem by the rest of the Republicans.

allegorical oracle

(5,443 posts)
59. Are there many Medicaid recipients in WI? Or do they not vote? All the Ron Johnsons should
Sat May 24, 2025, 03:15 PM
May 24

be cornered -- djt on one side versus angry, vocal voters who make sure they lose their next election.

Wiz Imp

(6,293 posts)
38. Wanna Bet? No way he does.
Sat May 24, 2025, 01:42 PM
May 24

He will NOT vote for the bill unless more government spending is cut. Guaranteed.

J_William_Ryan

(2,878 posts)
20. "He won't vote for it 'in its current form'"
Sat May 24, 2025, 12:35 PM
May 24

Correct.

It’s naïve to believe that Republicans will save Medicare and Medicaid.

valleyrogue

(2,245 posts)
21. It is even possible the whole thing was destined to fail,
Sat May 24, 2025, 12:39 PM
May 24

with the House nutjobs passing it knowing the Senate would kill it in its tracks. The Senate can easily kill legislation with one person objecting, especially if that one person is from the same party as the president.

I don't think there is any way in hell these people are going to actually kill millions of people to benefit a handful of billionaires. The political fallout would be a disaster.

Granted, they are an evil bunch, but they aren't about to destroy the American medical industry with insane legislation to sharply cut Medicaid and Medicare. Those over 65 are the biggest beneficiaries of both programs, and they are also the most reliable voting bloc.

gab13by13

(29,068 posts)
24. Totally disagree
Sat May 24, 2025, 12:49 PM
May 24

Republicans have been trying to gut the social safety net for decades.

This is the beginning of the end for those programs.

Wiz Imp

(6,293 posts)
42. I'm not sure you understand. Johnson wants to kill many MORE millions to benefit billionaires.
Sat May 24, 2025, 01:45 PM
May 24

That is his objection.

Fiendish Thingy

(20,217 posts)
22. If Collins and Tillis join Johnson, that's a wrap.
Sat May 24, 2025, 12:49 PM
May 24

Assuming Fetterman doesn’t cross the aisle.

I think they will pass a bill, but the most heinous parts will be diluted in order to get enough senators to vote yes.

 

JohnSJ

(98,883 posts)
26. They will pass a bill, unfortunately I think it will even be more deplorable than the one the House did.
Sat May 24, 2025, 12:53 PM
May 24

Fiendish Thingy

(20,217 posts)
29. I don't
Sat May 24, 2025, 01:07 PM
May 24

Collins and Tillis are very vulnerable in 2026, and even Josh Hawley has come out strongly against the Medicaid cuts.

There will still be some shitty stuff in the final bill, but it won’t be worse than the one the house passed- they want to keep the senate in the midterms so they can keep confirming Trump judges.

 

JohnSJ

(98,883 posts)
39. I hope you are right Fiendish. The House bill as it is, is a disaster where a lot of people will get hurt, and
Sat May 24, 2025, 01:42 PM
May 24

supposedly there were House republicans in vulnerable districts who still voted for it.


Wiz Imp

(6,293 posts)
43. Enough with this garbage Fetterman would not vote for this bill in a million years.
Sat May 24, 2025, 01:49 PM
May 24

Collins and Murkowski object to it for completely different reasons than Johnson and Rand Paul andd then osh Hawley is out there with his own objections.

They'll eventually come up with something that will get the 50 votes they need, but we don't know what that will look like or if the House will then pass the Senate's version.

Eliot Rosewater

(33,275 posts)
27. Zero chance he holds to this or
Sat May 24, 2025, 12:54 PM
May 24

Or What he actually opposes is not the cuts that will kill people.

The piece of shit in the White House and maga wanna kill all of us, do people understand that now?

When I think of how many people pushed back at me when I said that two years ago, six years ago

Wiz Imp

(6,293 posts)
44. He absolutely will stick with this. He is demanding MORE cuts to spending and he's not backing down.
Sat May 24, 2025, 01:50 PM
May 24

rsdsharp

(11,104 posts)
31. Yeah, he's gonna kill it. Right up until he gets his call from Trump.
Sat May 24, 2025, 01:15 PM
May 24

Then he’ll fall on his knees, and search for Dear Leader’s tiny little mushroom.🍄

Wiz Imp

(6,293 posts)
45. Nope. He's demanding MORE spending cuts and he's not backing down.
Sat May 24, 2025, 01:54 PM
May 24

But he can't kill it on his own. As long as no more than 3 people vote NO, it will pass. But there are enough people with various conflicting issues with the House bill, that there will be major changes to it before they vote on it in the Senate.

Wiz Imp

(6,293 posts)
53. Nope. He's not gonna back down.
Sat May 24, 2025, 02:03 PM
May 24

He can't kill the bill on his own so he can stick to his "principles" which I'm sure he will. They can afford up to 3 NO votes and still pass it. And the reason for those NO votes don't all have to be the same. They'll eventually come up with something that gets the 50 votes they need, but Johnson won't be one of those unless significant additional spending cuts are included.

Sogo

(6,492 posts)
32. A Republican with a spine?
Sat May 24, 2025, 01:24 PM
May 24

....although he did leave himself an out by adding "in its current form."

Figarosmom

(7,271 posts)
36. Ssomething changed with him
Sat May 24, 2025, 01:39 PM
May 24

I wonder if trump went too far in his threats to him and his family. He's been sounding like he absolutely hates trump now. He used to carry water for him , completely in. But lately not so much.

Wiz Imp

(6,293 posts)
50. He effectively wants ALL government spending zeroed out. The tax cuts for billionaires are A-OK
Sat May 24, 2025, 01:58 PM
May 24

but he's not OK with the increasing deficit.

He's actually one of the few being honest about the deficit, but his solution is to cut EVERYTHINg - SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE, MEDICAID - if h had his way he'd completely get rid of all of them.

senseandsensibility

(23,059 posts)
52. I heard him badmouthing the bill about a month ago on FAUX
Sat May 24, 2025, 02:00 PM
May 24

saying it should be broken into smaller bills and that it would not pass the Senate, at least until the end of the year. That said, I'll believe it when I see it.

Wiz Imp

(6,293 posts)
54. Completely FAKE headline.
Sat May 24, 2025, 02:09 PM
May 24

He didn't say he was gonna kill the bill. He said he wouldn't vote for it. He can't kill it on his own. He needs 3 others to vote NO too to kill it. He will only vote for it if they include significantly more spending cuts which they may rewrite it to do, but that may jeopardize other votes. I'm sure they'll com up with something that will get the 50 votes they need, but it will be significantly different than the house version. And I'm betting the final Senate approved version will not include enough cuts to get Johnson to vote for it (but they don't need his vote).

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Senator Ron Johnson, a Re...