Senator Ron Johnson

We got to get back to a reasonable level. And by the way, if we do, I think the bond markets would rejoice. We wouldn't be looking at a ramping up of interest costs. We can talk about debt to wealth as opposed to debt to GDP because we've got that monkey off our back.

We got to get back to a reasonable level. And by the way, if we do, I think the bond markets would rejoice. We wouldn't be looking at a ramping up of interest costs. We can talk about debt to wealth as opposed to debt to GDP because we've got that monkey off our back.

And we also have to focus on economic growth through the private sector, not fueled by government deficit spending. I mean, I don't know what percent of our actual growth came from $2 trillion a year deficits. I think a pretty good chunk. So have we really had real private sector growth?

And we also have to focus on economic growth through the private sector, not fueled by government deficit spending. I mean, I don't know what percent of our actual growth came from $2 trillion a year deficits. I think a pretty good chunk. So have we really had real private sector growth?

I think we have, but not as much as I think the headline numbers because so much of it has been fueled by the government. By the way, that's also true in terms of revenue coming from the government. It is true that we beat the CBO estimates. But that's because of trillions of dollars of deficit spending starting the pandemic years followed through with Biden.

I think we have, but not as much as I think the headline numbers because so much of it has been fueled by the government. By the way, that's also true in terms of revenue coming from the government. It is true that we beat the CBO estimates. But that's because of trillions of dollars of deficit spending starting the pandemic years followed through with Biden.

Prior to the pandemic, we really weren't matching even the CBO's downgrade of revenue coming in after the TCGA. We weren't hitting it. But then he had COVID hit and, again, trillions of dollars of deficit spending that also boosted revenue. So, again, all these people saying, oh, we're going to, you know, that tax increase is going to be dynamically scored and it's going to pay for itself.

Prior to the pandemic, we really weren't matching even the CBO's downgrade of revenue coming in after the TCGA. We weren't hitting it. But then he had COVID hit and, again, trillions of dollars of deficit spending that also boosted revenue. So, again, all these people saying, oh, we're going to, you know, that tax increase is going to be dynamically scored and it's going to pay for itself.

Listen, I'm all for dynamic scoring, but let's be realistic. And again, I'll point out the CBO projection I'm dealing with, $22 trillion, that assumes we go from 17.1% to 18% of GDP in terms of revenue. So, you know, if we don't cancel the tax increase and there's dynamic scoring effects, it just means we don't hit 18.1 and that number is still lower.

Listen, I'm all for dynamic scoring, but let's be realistic. And again, I'll point out the CBO projection I'm dealing with, $22 trillion, that assumes we go from 17.1% to 18% of GDP in terms of revenue. So, you know, if we don't cancel the tax increase and there's dynamic scoring effects, it just means we don't hit 18.1 and that number is still lower.

That's why I'm not an optimist. But, you know, I've heard people rationalize this. And I mean, important people rationalize, you know, just go along with this. Get us a patent. I mean, this is what we have to do to win the majority, maintain the majority in the House in 2027, right? What good is a majority if you literally don't solve the problems that you're aware of?

That's why I'm not an optimist. But, you know, I've heard people rationalize this. And I mean, important people rationalize, you know, just go along with this. Get us a patent. I mean, this is what we have to do to win the majority, maintain the majority in the House in 2027, right? What good is a majority if you literally don't solve the problems that you're aware of?

Oh, so when we have the majority in 2027, then we're going to actually turn the spending curve down. That's when we're going to return to pre-pandemic level spending. I don't buy it. This is our one opportunity. And right now we're blowing it. And I'm going to do everything I can to make sure we don't blow it. But again, that is the reality. And listen, I don't discount the fact.

Oh, so when we have the majority in 2027, then we're going to actually turn the spending curve down. That's when we're going to return to pre-pandemic level spending. I don't buy it. This is our one opportunity. And right now we're blowing it. And I'm going to do everything I can to make sure we don't blow it. But again, that is the reality. And listen, I don't discount the fact.

that we may lose the House, we may lose the Senate. But I would say we do that because we're not solving these problems. We're going to be looked at as unserious. Our base is going to go, why did we elect you guys? You didn't take the bull by the horns. You didn't solve this problem. You're really no better than Democrats. I think we have to be concerned about that.

that we may lose the House, we may lose the Senate. But I would say we do that because we're not solving these problems. We're going to be looked at as unserious. Our base is going to go, why did we elect you guys? You didn't take the bull by the horns. You didn't solve this problem. You're really no better than Democrats. I think we have to be concerned about that.

they will achieve and maintain a pre-pandemic level of spending, just a lower spending level. I come from a manufacturing base, right? You can't have a good product without a good process. And we've just never had that process. So the only one I can think of is what Doge has demonstrated does work in terms of getting the public supporting Us in terms of limiting just awful spending.

they will achieve and maintain a pre-pandemic level of spending, just a lower spending level. I come from a manufacturing base, right? You can't have a good product without a good process. And we've just never had that process. So the only one I can think of is what Doge has demonstrated does work in terms of getting the public supporting Us in terms of limiting just awful spending.

So you got to expose it. You got to go line by line. Again, there are thousands of lines, just top lines in the federal budget, hundreds, thousands of lines under each one of those as well. So you have to do the work. And again, I would love to take that Doge team, you know, those geniuses with all their AI and their computer skills.

So you got to expose it. You got to go line by line. Again, there are thousands of lines, just top lines in the federal budget, hundreds, thousands of lines under each one of those as well. So you have to do the work. And again, I would love to take that Doge team, you know, those geniuses with all their AI and their computer skills.