Bloomberg Talks
Republican Senator Ron Johnson Talks Russian Sanctions, Federal Employee Pay
23 Oct 2025
Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
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You certainly ask interesting questions.
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fresh reaction amid these reports this evening on a potential workaround to end the government shutdown. We're joined now by Republican Senator of Wisconsin Ron Johnson. He's with us live from Capitol Hill. And Senator, it's great to have you back on Bloomberg TV and radio.
I'm looking forward to your thoughts on the shutdown here, but I'd love to ask you about this news that's coming from the White House now and whether the moment has arrived for secondary sanctions to hit the floor. I know that John Thune has said they're on pause right now out of deference to the White House, but is it time to vote?
Well, again, I really will let that up to the president. When he wants that as a backstop to put pressure on Putin, I think that's what we'll act.
Understood. Is that something that you feel like we're moving closer to as he prepares to sit down with the secretary general at NATO? We're just trying to get a sense of which direction the president's leaning in here and how to deal with Vladimir Putin.
Well, my guess is he's getting pretty disgusted with dealing with Vladimir Putin. He's giving him every opportunity to end up with a peaceful solution here, dangled economic benefits in front of him, obviously threatened sanctions. Again, this president wants peace. I think if there's a hallmark to his administration, even his previous administration, he's not a wartime president. He wants peace.
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Chapter 2: What are the latest developments regarding Russian sanctions?
I spoke earlier with the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee who kind of stopped us in our tracks when he suggested that he might be behind a full year CR. In fact, one that would get us through December of 2026. I want you to hear what he said earlier on Bloomberg. Let's listen.
December 21st, 2026 is what I've been hearing up here as a suggestion, as an opportunity of a continuing resolution. As we know, we're operating under a year-long resolution from last year. We're looking at what was appropriated when Biden was president.
That was Congressman Jason Smith earlier on Bloomberg. Senator, is this what it's come to? And would you support a full year continuing resolution?
No.
What would be a much better idea would be just pass my Eliminate Shutdowns Act. What that does, it sets up automatic rolling 14-day continuing appropriations for whatever department or all government that hasn't been appropriated for. That would give the appropriators time to find areas of agreement, pass the bills they can pass.
The ones that don't, you just continue to fund at last year's levels. That'd be a far more common sense approach than a one-year continuing resolution for all of government. Give the appropriators time. The appropriators, some Republicans even vote against the Eliminate Shutdown Act. They said it would undermine the appropriations process.
Well, here's the alternative, a CR that goes into December of 2026. So hopefully people will come to their senses and realize Eliminate Shutdowns Act is the solution to our current fix.
Senator, it doesn't seem that that bill has gone very far yet. Are you sensing you will get some more support for this bill?
Well, the good news is that Leader Thun switched his vote to no so he could bring up for reconsideration. Again, I was very disappointed in Republican appropriators voting no. They said it would undercut the appropriation process, but let me describe that appropriation process it supposedly undermines. I've been here 15 years.
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