Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) dismissed the proposal that Congress could pass another budget reconciliation bill this year to cut spending further.
The first “mandatory spending” legislation since President Donald Trump took office was passed earlier this month. However, Republicans across Congress are already considering a second bill to pass before the end of the year.
Paul voted against the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. According to the Kentucky senator, the only reason he would’ve voted for it was if it included a “90% reduction in the debt ceiling.”
Fox Business anchor Maria Bartiromo asked Paul on Tuesday’s Mornings with Maria how likely he would be to support another reconciliation bill.
“Well, it would require a special sort of surgical procedure where they would implant spines into members of the Republican caucus,” Paul said, pausing to laugh.
“They didn’t have the spine to cut the spending a month ago. What makes you think they’re all of a sudden gonna have spine next week or a month from now? So I highly doubt the Republican caucus– we don’t have enough of us who are fiscally conservative.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) claimed on Fox News Sunday that he was eyeing two more reconciliation bills before this congressional session ends in 2026, the first in the fall and the second possibly in the spring of next year.
Paul was not enthusiastic about Johnson’s prediction.
“I wish the speaker were right, but I don’t think his assessment is correct,” Paul said.
WHY I SAID ‘NO’ TO THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL ACT
This week, the Senate is slated to vote on a rescissions bill that dictates discretionary spending. Paul estimated Republican senators would attempt to cut $9 billion, saying, “We should be able to do that in our sleep.”
The House’s rescissions bill passed 214-212 in June, after only four Republican members defected to vote against it.