Three of the recalcitrant Republicans voiced concerns about how the legislation is projected to add $3 trillion to the national debt over the next decade.
Trump’s tax-cut bill passes key committee, moves to House
President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax-cut bill passed a key committee and will move to a House vote.
- GOP Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Warren Davidson of Ohio voted against the sweeping package of legislation.
- Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., the chairman of the Freedom Caucus, voted present, which would have helped kill the measure if the rest of the lawmakers tied.
WASHINGTON – Five House Republicans didn’t join their fellow GOP colleagues supporting the legislative package packed with President Donald Trump’s priorities, while Democrats unanimously opposed the bill that will swell the national debt and add work requirements to Medicaid.
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, had already announced his opposition for what he said would continue Biden administration levels of spending long before the vote of 215 in favor, 214 opposed and one present. Trump responded that Massie should be voted out of office after a meeting May 20 of House GOP lawmakers.
Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, also voted against the bill for increasing the deficit a projected $451 billion in 2027.
“While I love many things in the bill, promising someone else will cut spending in the future does not cut spending,” Davidson said in a social media post. “Deficits do matter and this bill grows them now.”
Three other Republicans also didn’t cast yes votes for the Trump bill.
Rep. Andy Harris, R-Maryland, voted present, which would have effectively been an opposition vote if the rest of the lawmakers had tied. Harris is the chairman of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus, which sought greater cuts in spending in the package. He posted the same chart of growing debt as Davidson before the vote.
Reps. David Schweikert of Arizona and Andrew Gabarino of New York missed the vote entirely.