Ron Johnson says he'll resist pressure on Trump's budget bill, talks Biden probe and MPS lead crisis
MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- U.S. Senator Ron Johnson is not backing down from his demands to make changes to President Donald Trump's marquee budget bill, saying he won't cave into pressure from the president or Republican leadership in Congress.
Speaking at a Milwaukee Press Club event, Johnson said he's prepared to go up against Trump on his "big, beautiful bill" that faces an uncertain future in the Senate.
"There's no amount of pressure that President Trump can apply to me that exceeds the pressure I feel, the promises I made to our children's future," Johnson told a panel of reporters.
"Rather than trying to twist my arm to pass the one 'big, beautiful bill' that doesn't meet the moment, he should be twisting members of the House and Senate who are not willing to cut waste, fraud and abuse."
Johnson wants deeper cuts and repeatedly said he wants to go back to pre-pandemic spending levels. The Oshkosh Republican also expressed confidence there's enough support in his chamber to stall the bill.
"I think there's enough to slow this process down until the President and leadership gets serious about returning to a pre-pandemic level," he said.
The senator noted the legislation which aims to extend Trump's first-term tax cuts, enhance border security, and Medicaid restrictions, should undergo more cuts that reflect the work of Elon Musk's DOGE operation.
On Tuesday, Musk said he was "disappointed" by the policy bill passed by the House last week that reflects Trump's legislative agenda.
"I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decreases it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing," Musk said during an interview with CBS News.
Johnson said he agreed with Musk's comments.
Milwaukee's Lead Crisis
Milwaukee's lead crisis should be addressed by city and state officials, not the federal government, Johnson said.
The senator suggested there's no one at the federal level that can fix dangerous levels of lead found in several Milwaukee public schools.
"This is something I think Milwaukee, Wisconsin should get a handle on themselves," Johnson said. "Is there really some secret expertise the federal government inside the CDC has? I doubt it. We've known about this. Clean it up."
Last week, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified to lawmakers that there was "a team" helping Milwaukee's ongoing lead crisis. The Milwaukee Health Department denied that.
Vaccine Skepticism
On vaccine-related news, Johnson praised RFK Jr.'s decision to upend Covid-19 recommendations for children and pregnant women.
The senator also questioned whether the measles vaccine is linked to autism.
"I think it's entirely possible," Johnson said.
Multiple studies by the CDC and others have ruled that out.
Biden Investigation
Johnson, the chair of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs' select subcommittee on investigations, also detailed plans on his recently announced investigation into former President Joe Biden's health.
The GOP senator said he's prepared to subpoena former Biden officials if they don't voluntarily testify about allegations the White House kept the former President's deteriorating health a secret.
"I'm darn serious about this, but I want it to be a serious investigation," he said. "I hope they volunteer. I hope they come forward."
Political Future
When asked about whether he’d run for president, Johnson said he has no interest in the job.
However, he kept the door open about running for a fourth term in 2028.
"I'd like to dig my heels in now, set this nation on a sustainable course and then go home," he said.
Johnson, elected in 2010, originally said he would only serve two terms but then ran for reelection in 2022.