WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Lawmakers return to Washington this week and Republicans are gearing up to pass the president’s “big, beautiful bill” which includes sweeping tax cuts and a roll back of social services like Medicaid.
A handful of Senate Republicans have expressed concerns about the bill’s proposed cuts.
This week will be a test to see if the party will band together in the end.
“The math doesn’t really add up,” said Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.).
Republican Kentucky Senator Rand Paul threw cold water on the plan.
He argues the proposed spending cuts and tax breaks in the massive bill will only balloon the federal deficit.
” I don’t want to raise the debt ceiling $5 trillion,” said Paul.
On Truth Social President Donald Trump went after Paul, arguing if he joins Democrats to block the bill the great people of Kentucky will never forgive him.
On Monday Senate Majority Leader John Thune pledged to get to work.
“Our biggest focus this month will be completing this tax relief legislation with the goal of getting the final bill to the president before the Fourth of July,” said Thune.
Missouri Republican Senator Josh Hawley says he will not support the bill’s $800 billion cut to Medicaid.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates $7.6 million Americans would lose health care as a result.
“It’s a nonstarter in this form,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.).
Democrats are united against the bill. They say it will also slash food assistance for millions.
“This Republican budget bill is an absolute disaster for the country in particular for middle class in poor people,” said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.).
Senate Republicans are all but certain to make changes to the bill which will tee up another showdown among conservative and moderate Republicans in the House before it ever makes it to the president’s desk.