Governor Gavin Newsom is &#8220;threatening to commit criminal tax evasion,&#8221; Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Sunday, amid an escalating war of words between California and the Trump administration.
The warning from Bessent came in response to Newsom recently <a href="https://x.com/GavinNewsom/status/1931087538565054849" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suggesting</a> that his state &#8220;cut&#8221; off the more than $80 billion &#8220;more in taxes than we get back&#8221; in response to a CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/06/politics/trump-california-federal-funding" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> with sources claiming President Donald Trump was preparing a broad cancellation of federal funding for California.
&#8220;Governor [Gavin Newsom] is threatening to commit criminal tax evasion. His plan: defraud the American taxpayer and leave California residents on the hook for unpaid federal taxes,&#8221; Bessent <a href="https://x.com/SecScottBessent/status/1931763599116030322" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a thread posted on X.
&#8220;I am certain most California businesses know that failing to pay taxes owed to the Treasury constitutes tax evasion and have no intention of following the dangerous path Governor [Gavin Newsom] is threatening,&#8221; Bessent added. &#8220;I would warn state officials, including payroll managers, that federal law attaches personal liability to an &#8216;attempt to evade or defeat tax.'&#8221;
Newsom&#8217;s &#8220;comments are extremely reckless. Instead of committing criminal tax evasion, Governor Newsom should consider a tax plan for California that follows the Trump Tax Cuts model and reduces the onerous state tax burden to allow families to keep more of their hard-earned money,&#8221; Bessent concluded.
Bessent posted the thread as Newsom, a Democrat widely considered a potential candidate for the presidency, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/deranged-behavior-gavin-newsom-declares-war-on-pete-hegseth-gets-more-than-he-bargained-for" target="_blank" rel="noopener">clashed</a> with President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over troop deployments to California amid violent anti-ICE protests that have taken place in and around Los Angeles over the weekend.
After Hegseth said active-duty Marines at Camp Pendleton would be <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pete-hegseth-puts-nearby-u-s-marines-on-high-alert-as-los-angeles-burns" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mobilized</a> to assist National Guardsmen if the chaos persists, Newsom accused the Defense Secretary of exhibiting &#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/deranged-behavior-gavin-newsom-declares-war-on-pete-hegseth-gets-more-than-he-bargained-for" target="_blank" rel="noopener">deranged behavior</a>&#8221; for &#8220;threatening to deploy active-duty Marines on American soil against its own citizens.&#8221;
In response, Hegseth said on X, &#8220;Deranged = allowing your city to burn &amp; law enforcement to be attacked. There is plenty of room for peaceful protest, but ZERO tolerance for attacking federal agents who are doing their job. The National Guard, and Marines if need be, stand with ICE.&#8221;

Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent

Newsom ‘Threatening’ Criminal Tax Evasion, Treasury Secretary Warns

California

Gavin Newsom

Pete Hegseth

Riots

Scott Bessent

Taxes

Trump Administration

U.S.

The most radical thing Washington can do right now is stop spending. President Trump’s proposed $9.4 billion rescissions package won’t accomplish that on its own, but it at least, finally, moves us in the right direction.
For decades, members of both parties have treated spending growth as a measure of success. The assumption has been that government must grow, and that any program, once funded, must be permanent. That mindset has left us with a bloated federal bureaucracy that has replaced free-market policy and individual freedom with centralized control and pushed the country to <a href="https://www.usdebtclock.org/">nearly $37 trillion in debt</a>.
Still, most sitting lawmakers have never voted to cut a single dollar of federal spending. This package gives them that chance. More than that, it gives them an opening to start restoring the habits of a functioning legislature.
It’s also the first time the Department of Government Efficiency has had its work put into legislative form. Elon Musk built and led DOGE under the simple premise to stop wasting taxpayer money. Musk has since returned to the private sector, but he and the president have made clear that the mission remains. The rescissions package, which would codify spending cuts proposed by DOGE, reflects that mission. It targets corrupt USAID programs, taxpayer subsidies for ideologically biased public broadcasters NPR and PBS, and other programs that fail even a basic test of necessity in a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/05/02/us/trump-budget-2026">$1.7 trillion discretionary budget</a>.
Fiscal conservatives, especially those complaining this package doesn’t go far enough, should not let the perfect be the enemy of the essential. Fiscal discipline, like any discipline, requires a starting point. You don’t run a marathon by starting with 20 miles, you start with one. This bill is that first mile.
Congress should treat it as such: start small, bank the win, and keep cutting wherever the rules allow. That means more rescissions, which require only a simple majority to pass. It also means using the appropriations process and, when necessary, continuing resolutions, to keep pushing the issue. Not every tool requires a supermajority, but even the ones that do are worth using to force the debate. Progress in this fight can come steadily if congressional Republicans stay united and focused.
It also means that if passed, this package should be the first of a longer series of cuts. Each one can go further, targeting programs that stray from constitutional purpose or national interest. Repetition in this case can build momentum and credibility.
It can also build legislative muscle memory. Too many lawmakers now assume the only way forward is through bipartisan overspending. A successful rescission would challenge that assumption. It would remind Congress that not every federal dollar is sacred and that cutting even a fraction of the budget is still possible with political will.
Moreover, follow-through matters just as much as passage. House and Senate Republicans must ensure these cuts aren’t restored elsewhere. Cuts that DOGE has made or proposed shouldn’t be backfilled through continuing resolutions or omnibus bills, especially those that are widely popular across America. What gets cut should stay cut. The goal is a permanent shift in direction.
DOGE’s broader purpose has always been to realign government toward greater efficiency and accountability. That vision reflects a basic expectation of public service – that government should function effectively, that leaders should make responsible decisions rather than defer them, and that taxpayers should have confidence their money is being used with care, not lost to inefficiency or corruption.
Congressional Republicans should also keep in mind that a win here sets the tone for the 2026 midterm elections. It signals that the Trump administration’s second-term agenda, as well as the party’s broader movement, is not just about executive action but real, legislative reform. Therefore, they should view these cuts not as the finish line, but as the starting point.
The stakes are about whether the federal government serves the American people or the other way around; whether Congress retains the capacity to exercise restraint, or whether inertia has become the default; and whether a new generation of lawmakers can relearn the forgotten skill of saying no.
This rescissions bill offers the chance to begin answering those questions. Conservatives should take it, and then keep going.
* * *
Paul Teller is the Executive Vice President of Advancing American Freedom.
John Shelton is a policy director for Advancing American Freedom. 
The views expressed in this piece are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Thune Aims Vote On Tax Bill In Last Week Of June

Why The First Spending Cut Is Worth Making

Congress

DOGE

Elon Musk

National Debt

Opinion

President Trump

Republicans

Spending Bill

U.S. House of Representatives

USAID

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) earned widespread praise from GOP and conservative figures for successfully shepherding the &#8220;One Big, Beautiful Bill&#8221; through the House last week, a legislative victory that bolsters President Donald Trump’s agenda.
The bill <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-passes-one-big-beautiful-bill-in-massive-win-for-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed</a> through a 215-214 vote, with just two Republicans breaking ranks and joining Democrats in opposing it. It comes after Johnson <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-elects-mike-johnson-for-another-stint-as-speaker" target="_blank" rel="noopener">secured</a> re-election as House Speaker on the first ballot in January and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-passes-funding-patch-win-trump-speaker-johnson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">helped</a> avert a government shutdown in March. Working through a thin majority, Johnson’s ability to largely unify the House GOP has solidified his reputation as an effective leader.
&#8220;Great job by Speaker Mike Johnson, and the House Leadership, and thank you to every Republican who voted YES on this Historic Bill!&#8221; Trump <a href="https://x.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1925548216243703820" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post on social media.
&#8220;Mike Johnson is emerging at the most successful Republican speaker since Newt Gingrich,” Daily Mail reporter Charlie Spiering <a href="https://x.com/charliespiering/status/1925546808396169537" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a> on X. “And he&#8217;s doing it with an eight vote majority.&#8221; National Review’s Rich Lowry, in a column <a href="https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/mike-johnson-prevails-again/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">titled</a> &#8220;Mike Johnson Prevails Again,” opined that despite being &#8220;plucked from obscurity,&#8221; Johnson has &#8220;proven quite an adept speaker.&#8221;
Fox News contributor Joe Concha <a href="https://x.com/joeconchatv/status/1925549769578954812" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> on X, “Mike Johnson is the MVP for Trump right now,” while Newsmax’s John Bachman <a href="https://x.com/johnfbachman/status/1925520933604761839" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, “Wow… Mike Johnson does it again. Impressive.”
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=memorial&amp;utm_content=editorialmemorialday" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Memorial Day Sale – Get 40% Off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships</a>
Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) <a href="https://x.com/RepAshleyHinson/status/1925517926448160991" target="_blank" rel="noopener">commented</a>, “The DC media loves to underestimate Speaker Johnson. Proven wrong once again.” RedState’s Joe Cunningham <a href="https://redstate.com/joesquire/2025/05/22/herding-cats-moving-mountains-and-passing-the-big-beautiful-bill-n2189450" target="_blank" rel="noopener">observed</a>, “This is the closest the House GOP has come to operating like a unified governing body in years.”
GOP strategist Matt Whitlock <a href="https://x.com/mattdizwhitlock/status/1925524185205330327" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called</a> the bill’s passage “a huge win for Speaker Johnson and House Republicans.” Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, <a href="https://x.com/GroverNorquist/status/1925657838434635846" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stated</a>, &#8220;Taxpayers owe [Johnson] and [House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA)] bigly for managing a narrow Republican House Majority that was united and committed to reducing taxes on the American people.&#8221;
Daily Signal President and Executive Editor Robert Bluey <a href="https://x.com/robertbluey/status/1925540483025019119" target="_blank" rel="noopener">remarked</a>, &#8220;An impressive winning streak for [Johnson]. The man knows how to get the job done.&#8221; CPAC’s Mercedes Schlapp <a href="https://x.com/mercedesschlapp/status/1925525353524592734" target="_blank" rel="noopener">declared</a>, &#8220;Speaker Johnson is one of the most effective House Speakers. An incredible accomplishment to bring together the different factions of the party to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill to support American families and protect our borders.&#8221;

U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA)

Speaker Johnson Attains ‘MVP’ Status For Steering ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ To Victory

Mike Johnson

Politics

Tax Cuts

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is defending the House-<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-passes-one-big-beautiful-bill-in-massive-win-for-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed</a> version of President Donald Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill” from <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rand-paul-warns-big-beautiful-bill-explode-debt" target="_blank" rel="noopener">criticism</a> that it would dangerously inflate the national debt from Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY).
Speaking on &#8220;Fox News Sunday&#8221; with anchor Shannon Bream, moments after Paul’s interview on the same program, Johnson diplomatically rebutted the senator’s claims that the bill features “wimpy and anemic” spending cuts and poses a national security threat by “exploding” the national debt.
&#8220;I agree wholeheartedly with what my dear friend, Rand Paul, said. I love his conviction and I share it. The national debt is &#8230; the greatest threat to our national security and deficits are a serious problem,&#8221; the speaker said. &#8220;What I think Rand is missing on this one is the fact that we are quite serious about this. This is the biggest spending cut, Shannon, in more than 30 years, we&#8217;re going to cut over $1.5 trillion in spending, and it&#8217;s a big leap forward.&#8221;
He continued: &#8220;The last time we had a spending cut was three decades ago, and it was only 800 billion, even adjusted for inflation. This is the biggest spending cut, I think, in the history of government on planet earth. Now, is it enough? Of course not. But we have a very delicate balance and we have to start the process. I liken this to an aircraft carrier. You don&#8217;t turn an aircraft carrier on a dime. It takes a mile of open ocean. And so, it took us decades to get into this situation. This is a big step to begin to turn that aircraft carrier.&#8221;
The speaker also took a moment to address &#8220;one important point&#8221; made by Paul.
&#8220;It sounds like his biggest objection is the fact that we are extending the debt ceiling,&#8221; Johnson said. &#8220;That&#8217;s a critically important thing to do. We have to do it. We&#8217;re not going to get any Democrats to assist on that. So, to get it through the Senate and make sure we don&#8217;t crash the U.S. economy and default on our debts for the first time in history, it has to be part of the reconciliation package. And that&#8217;s why the president, Trump, and all the other Republicans in Congress, House and Senate, understand the necessity of this.&#8221;
He added: &#8220;Real quick, important point here. It does not mean that we&#8217;re going to spend more money. We&#8217;re extending the debt ceiling to show to creditors, the bond markets, the stock market, that the Congress is serious about this. President Trump is dialed in 100%. He is a visionary leader. He does not want to spend more money. And he has the same concern about the national debt that Rand Paul and I do. That&#8217;s why we&#8217;re not going to be spending to that level. We&#8217;re just sending a message to our creditors around the world that we&#8217;re serious about all of this.&#8221;
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Speaker Johnson live with Shannon Bream on Fox News Sunday" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sr9NXt9-CZE?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Paul, who lamented that the U.S. deficit remains about $2.2 trillion, said he would consider backing the legislation if its proposed $4-5 trillion debt ceiling increase is removed.
&#8220;There&#8217;s got to be someone left in Washington who thinks debt is wrong and deficits are wrong and wants to go in the other direction,&#8221; he said. &#8220;The idea that we&#8217;re going to explode deficits and the projections are now looking at over $3 trillion in deficits over the next 10 years. I think it&#8217;s just &#8230; not a serious proposal.&#8221;

Speaker Mike Johnson

Mike Johnson Rebuts Rand Paul’s Debt Warning On ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’

Debt Ceiling

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) criticized the version of President Donald Trump&#8217;s &#8220;One Big, Beautiful Bill&#8221; <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-passes-one-big-beautiful-bill-in-massive-win-for-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed</a> by the House last week, warning that it would significantly increase the national debt.
In a Sunday interview with anchor Shannon Bream on &#8220;Fox News Sunday,&#8221; Paul expressed support for the bill&#8217;s tax cuts but described its spending cuts as &#8220;wimpy and anemic.&#8221; Even so, Paul said he could support the bill — if not for concerns about it adding to the nearly $37 trillion national debt.
&#8220;The problem is the math doesn&#8217;t add up,&#8221; Paul said. &#8220;They&#8217;re going to explode the debt by — the House says $4 trillion, the Senate&#8217;s actually been talking about exploding the debt $5 trillion.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Great joining <a href="https://twitter.com/ShannonBream?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShannonBream</a> on <a href="https://twitter.com/FoxNewsSunday?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FoxNewsSunday</a> to talk about why I oppose the Big Beautiful Bill. <a href="https://t.co/ylvf4TKXrz">pic.twitter.com/ylvf4TKXrz</a>
— Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenRandPaul/status/1926639668960883102?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Proponents <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-budget-chief-responds-fiscal-hawk-heartburn-over-big-beautiful-bill" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tout</a> how the bill aims to make reforms to rein in spending programs, such as kicking illegal immigrants off Medicaid, and foster economic growth. Yet that may not be enough. Like the House, the Senate has a slim GOP majority, and it&#8217;s not guaranteed the bill will prevail in its current form.
Paul, who lamented that the U.S. deficit remains about $2.2 trillion, said he would consider backing the legislation if its proposed $4-5 trillion debt ceiling increase is removed.
&#8220;There&#8217;s got to be someone left in Washington who thinks debt is wrong and deficits are wrong and wants to go in the other direction,&#8221; he said. &#8220;The idea that we&#8217;re going to explode deficits and the projections are now looking at over $3 trillion in deficits over the next 10 years. I think it&#8217;s just &#8230; not a serious proposal.&#8221;
Confronted with the prospect of a coming U.S. default, Paul said he proposed an amendment that would raise the debt ceiling every three months to leverage spending cuts. However, Republicans are adopting the &#8220;same playbook&#8221; as the Democrats and keep avoiding the issue, he said.
Paul cautioned that borrowing to fund &#8220;free stuff&#8221; such as healthcare drives a $3 trillion deficit, triggering inflation that harms beneficiaries, and he bemoaned a failure to advance DOGE-proposed spending cuts or rescission packages.
The national debt, with $7 trillion in spending against $5 trillion in revenue, is the &#8220;greatest threat&#8221; to U.S. national security, Paul said.
&#8220;Conservatives do need to stand up and have their voice heard,&#8221; he declared. &#8220;This is a problem we&#8217;ve been facing for decades now, and if we don&#8217;t stand up on it, I really fear the direction the country is going.&#8221;

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY)

Rand Paul Warns ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Will ‘Explode The Debt’

Rand Paul

U.S. Senate

In a significant victory for President Donald Trump, the Republican-led House early Thursday morning passed what the president has championed as the &#8220;one big, beautiful bill,&#8221; with enough Republican holdouts coming around to support the comprehensive tax and budget package.
Trump met with House Republicans two days in a row as they hashed out last-minute changes to win over members from high-tax blue states who wanted a higher state and local tax <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/this-tax-deduction-cap-threatens-to-derail-trumps-one-big-beautiful-bill" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(SALT) deduction cap</a> and fiscal hawks who demanded more spending cuts. The final vote, a close 215-214, followed back-to-back all-night sessions in the Rules Committee and on the House floor.
&#8220;We planned and we worked and we locked arms together as a team. And we have delivered this against all odds,&#8221; House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said in the final moments. &#8220;The media has tried to divide us. They&#8217;ve written our eulogy about 10 times. And you know what? Sometimes it&#8217;s good to be underestimated, isn&#8217;t it? But we got this done.&#8221;
Johnson managed to beat his deadline to pass the legislation by Memorial Day. It now heads to the Republican-controlled Senate for consideration. The Trump administration has indicated that it wants Congress to be <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-28/bessent-republicans-huddle-on-taxes-as-economic-tension-builds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">done</a> with the bill by July 4.
The bill <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/passing-trump-one-big-beautiful-bill-gop-duty-voters-white-house" target="_blank" rel="noopener">aims</a> to provide funding and support for Trump’s priorities on border security, energy, and national defense. It also seeks to retain tax cuts from 2017 set to expire at the end of this year, raise the debt limit by trillions of dollars, implement <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senate-unanimously-passes-no-tax-on-tips-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;no tax on tips&#8221;</a> and &#8220;no tax on overtime&#8221; policies, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/republicans-take-big-step-to-codify-trumps-battle-against-gender-insanity" target="_blank" rel="noopener">block</a> federal dollars from funding transgender procedures, and more.
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=memorial&amp;utm_content=editorialmemorialday" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Memorial Day Sale – Get 40% Off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships</a>
The House led the charge in devising the finer details of the <a href="https://budget.house.gov/imo/media/doc/one_big_beautiful_bill_act_-_full_bill_text.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bill</a> after Congress <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hold-trump-scores-big-beautiful-victory-house-budget-vote" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved</a> a budget framework last month. The budget reconciliation process they are using will allow the Senate, with its narrow Republican majority, to bypass the three-fifths majority threshold for overcoming a filibuster. Still, doing so may not be so easy, as <a href="https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2025/5/the-ugly-truth-about-the-big-beautiful-bill" target="_blank" rel="noopener">some</a> Republican senators <a href="https://x.com/mkraju/status/1922714643828498552" target="_blank" rel="noopener">expressed</a> reservations with the measure as it came together in the House.
Last-minute <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-republicans-reveal-final-changes-to-one-big-beautiful-bill" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tweaks</a> to the bill, meant to placate certain Republicans, include moving up Medicaid work requirements by two years to the end of 2026, and phasing out wind and solar energy tax credits after 2028. In addition, the SALT deduction cap was raised to $40,000, an increase from the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/this-tax-deduction-cap-threatens-to-derail-trumps-one-big-beautiful-bill" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$30,000 limit</a> that had initially been placed into the bill. Lawmakers also settled on the name &#8220;Trump accounts&#8221; for a $1,000 savings <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/21/us/politics/bill-would-give-newborns-1000-in-trump-accounts.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proposal</a> for newborns.
Democrats levied various complaints against the bill, including claims that it would result in people losing healthcare coverage and benefit the rich. They all voted against the bill, as did Republican Reps. Warren Davidson (OH) and Thomas Massie (KY), who raised concerns about <a href="https://x.com/WarrenDavidson/status/1925492567765856267" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spending</a> and the <a href="https://x.com/RepThomasMassie/status/1925429405649604776" target="_blank" rel="noopener">estimated</a> trillions of dollars the legislation is projected to add to the national debt.
Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, voted &#8220;present.&#8221;
Proponents focused on touting how the legislation would prevent a massive tax hike for working families and would kick illegal immigrants off Medicaid, among other things. Trump&#8217;s budget chief, Russell Vought, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-budget-chief-responds-fiscal-hawk-heartburn-over-big-beautiful-bill" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro the legislation offers the &#8220;most historic level of mandatory savings that we’ve had, ever — $1.6 trillion&#8221; by reining in spending programs while fostering economic growth.

President Trump, VP Vance, and Speaker Johnson

House Passes ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’ In Massive Win For Trump

Donald Trump

House Republicans released a so-called <a href="https://amendments-rules.house.gov/amendments/RCP_119-3_Managers_xml%20(002)250521201648156.pdf?_gl=1*1yc9bfp*_ga*MTY4NTMzODU0NS4xNzM3NzQzNTQz*_ga_N4RTJ5D08B*czE3NDc4NzUxMzQkbzYkZzEkdDE3NDc4NzUxNDYkajAkbDAkaDA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">manager&#8217;s amendment</a> on Wednesday night with tweaks to President Donald Trump&#8217;s &#8220;one big, beautiful bill&#8221; that emerged from negotiations to rally the GOP rank-and-file around the legislation.
In a <a href="https://x.com/Olivia_Beavers/status/1925356030076051903" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post</a> on X, Wall Street Journal reporter Olivia Beavers highlighted what the measure looks like with the last-minute changes:
<blockquote>— SALT deal stays 
— Medicaid work requirements moved up to Dec. 2026
— Incentives for non-expansion states 
— Faster phase out of energy tax credits for wind, solar, and battery storage in 2028 w/ some exceptions 
— Changes to federal pension 
— Ditching the federal requirement that firearm suppressors must be registered</blockquote>
Posts on social media from journalists also <a href="https://x.com/MaeveSheehey/status/1925358256605507719" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pointed</a> out that several pages in the manager&#8217;s amendment dealt with renaming &#8220;MAGA accounts,&#8221; which are featured in a <a href="https://www.wsj.com/personal-finance/maga-accounts-child-savings-tax-bill-explained-6c4d470e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proposal</a> to create tax-preferred savings accounts for children with $1,000 in seed money, to &#8220;Trump accounts.&#8221;
One significant point of contention over the past week had been the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap. GOP lawmakers from high-tax blue states protested the $30,000 ceiling originally proposed in the legislation. A deal was <a href="https://x.com/business/status/1925281114173698519" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> struck to lift the ceiling to $40,000. However, the SALT bargain threatened to alienate other Republican lawmakers.
&#8220;Raising the SALT deduction is a bailout for Democrat Governors — paid for by red states with low taxes. Tennesseans should not foot the bill for New York and California&#8217;s mismanagement,&#8221; <a href="https://x.com/RepJohnRose/status/1925299160405700955" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Rep. John Rose (R-TN), who is running for governor of Tennessee.
Now the House Rules Committee is expected to take up the manager&#8217;s amendment with the <a href="https://docs.house.gov/meetings/BU/BU00/20250516/118284/BILLS-119pih.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bill</a>. If they advance to the full House, GOP leadership could pave the way for a final vote as early as Thursday.
The bill, which is progressing through Congress via the reconciliation process, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/passing-trump-one-big-beautiful-bill-gop-duty-voters-white-house" target="_blank" rel="noopener">aims</a> to provide funding for Trump’s domestic priorities, retain the 2017 tax cuts, and raise the debt limit, &#8220;No Tax on Tips,&#8221; and more.
With a slim House majority and near-certain Democrat opposition, Republicans can likely afford only a few defectors to send the bill to the Senate. Trump met with House GOP lawmakers, including conservative holdouts, at the White House on Wednesday following the president&#8217;s trip to Capitol Hill to urge Republicans to pass the bill on Tuesday.

The rotunda at the US Capitol

House Republicans Reveal Final Changes To ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’

President Donald Trump&#8217;s &#8220;one big, beautiful bill&#8221; offers a &#8220;historic level of mandatory savings,&#8221; Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Russell Vought declared on Wednesday when pressed for a response to the legislation&#8217;s skeptics among conservative lawmakers.
Vought spoke about the legislation making its way through Congress through the reconciliation process during an appearance on &#8220;The Ben Shapiro Show&#8221; as House Republican leadership tries to rally the GOP rank-and-file behind the comprehensive package that <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/passing-trump-one-big-beautiful-bill-gop-duty-voters-white-house" target="_blank" rel="noopener">aims</a> to provide funding for Trump’s domestic priorities, retain the 2017 tax cuts, raise the debt limit, and more.
After noting how fiscal hawks are experiencing &#8220;heartburn&#8221; over the bill not doing enough to reduce the deficit and concerns that it might actually contribute to the deficit or add to the nearly $37 trillion national debt, Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro asked Vought to provide the &#8220;truth&#8221; of the matter.
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.<a href="https://twitter.com/RussVought45?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RussVought45</a>, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, details President Trump&#8217;s &#8220;one big, beautiful bill&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/qtTZ876fUk">pic.twitter.com/qtTZ876fUk</a>
— The Ben Shapiro Show (@BenShapiroShow) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenShapiroShow/status/1925245778114584630?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;This is the most historic level of mandatory savings that we&#8217;ve had, ever: $1.6 trillion,&#8221; Vought replied. &#8220;And just to give people a little bit of context: for 30 years, we&#8217;ve had virtually no efforts to&#8221; rein in spending programs, &#8220;which are the things that are kind of hardwired into permanent law. Welfare benefits, things like Medicaid, and we&#8217;ve had nothing of consequence since the 1997 Balanced Budget Agreement which included the work requirements with a Republican Congress and [former President] Bill Clinton.&#8221;
Vought said the bill currently being considered by Congress &#8220;essentially doubles that with $1.6 trillion, begins to have sizable savings to get illegal immigrants off of Medicaid, to have a work requirement in Medicaid to take those reforms from 1997 and apply them to more of the federal programs to get people back into the labor force.&#8221;
The bill &#8220;does sizable things,&#8221; Vought continued, noting that the Trump administration believes the bill will also bring economic growth.
&#8220;My view as the budget guy: you can&#8217;t cut spending if you don&#8217;t have a growing economy,&#8221; he said. &#8220;And so, the last thing you wanna do is not preserve these cuts, get them extended, that really is just what current law is. There&#8217;s a unique thing in budget land where you allow for programs to be permanent, but tax relief sunsets. So all that we&#8217;re doing is extending what is essentially current law and then adding $1.6 trillion in mandatory savings. We think it&#8217;s actually historic and something this town hasn&#8217;t even begun to approach, as we are working with members to be able to tell that story.&#8221;

OMB Boss Russel Vought

Trump’s Budget Chief Responds To Fiscal Hawk ‘Heartburn’ Over ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Russ Vought

A group of House Republicans huddled with President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday afternoon to reach a resolution for the &#8220;one big, beautiful bill.&#8221;
Included in the meeting, which came one day after Trump visited Capitol Hill to advocate for the legislation, were House GOP leaders as well as members of the conservative Freedom Caucus who are <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trumps-one-big-beautiful-bill-clears-hurdle-in-second-attempt-of-key-vote" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pushing</a> for more extensive spending cuts in exchange for their support. With a slim House majority and near-certain Democrat opposition, Republicans can likely afford only a few defectors to send the bill to the Senate.
&#8220;The meeting was productive and moved the ball in the right direction. The President reiterated how critical it is for the country to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill as quickly as possible,&#8221; White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.
Upon returning to the U.S. Capitol, House GOP leaders <a href="https://x.com/cami_mondeaux/status/1925299205595111428" target="_blank" rel="noopener">conveyed</a> to <a href="https://x.com/JakeSherman/status/1925299188557856973" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the media</a> they still planned to move forward with the package, with the introduction of a so-called manager&#8217;s amendment in the Rules Committee that is expected to include last-minute changes meant to placate holdouts. A vote could happen tonight otherwise or tomorrow morning.
The bill, which is progressing through Congress via the reconciliation process, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/passing-trump-one-big-beautiful-bill-gop-duty-voters-white-house" target="_blank" rel="noopener">aims</a> to provide funding for Trump’s domestic priorities, retain the 2017 tax cuts, raise the debt limit, and more. It has a multitude of provisions, including &#8220;No Tax On Tips&#8221; and reforms to Medicaid.
One significant point of contention has been the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap. GOP lawmakers from high-tax blue states protested the $30,000 ceiling originally proposed in the legislation, but a deal was <a href="https://x.com/business/status/1925281114173698519" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> struck to lift the ceiling to $40,000. However, the SALT bargain threatens to alienate other Republicans.
Rep. John Rose (R-TN), who is running for governor of Tennessee, <a href="https://x.com/RepJohnRose/status/1925298920868970708" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> in a Wednesday afternoon post on X that he would vote &#8220;no&#8221; on the bill in its current form. He added in <a href="https://x.com/RepJohnRose/status/1925299160405700955" target="_blank" rel="noopener">another</a> post: &#8220;Raising the SALT deduction is a bailout for Democrat Governors — paid for by red states with low taxes. Tennesseans should not foot the bill for New York and California&#8217;s mismanagement.&#8221;

President Donald Trump

‘Productive’ Meeting With Trump As House GOP Seeks Entente On ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’

On Tuesday, the GOP-led Senate unanimously passed bipartisan legislation from Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) that seeks to make good on President Donald Trump&#8217;s campaign promise for getting rid of taxes on tips.
Axios <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/20/senate-dems-attempt-pass-no-tax-on-tips" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> earlier in the day that Senate Republicans were likely to block a request for unanimous consent for Cruz&#8217;s measure by Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) because the GOP-controlled House is working on Trump&#8217;s &#8220;one big, beautiful bill,&#8221; which has its own <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trumps-one-big-beautiful-bill-gets-no-tax-on-tips-and-overtime" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;No Tax On Tips&#8221;</a> component.
However, that opposition did not materialize and Cruz&#8217;s <a href="https://www.cruz.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/no_tax_on_tips_act_2025.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;No Tax on Tips Act&#8221;</a> passed by <a href="https://x.com/SenatePress/status/1924921893066277222" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unanimous consent</a>, which is an <a href="https://www.senate.gov/about/glossary.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">agreement</a> that allows the upper chamber to bypass standard rules to speed up proceedings.
&#8220;President Trump made a promise to the American people that he would eliminate taxes on tips. In Congress, I formed a bipartisan, bicameral coalition to get that done, and in the Senate introduced the No Tax on Tips Act,&#8221; Cruz said in a <a href="https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-cruzs-no-tax-on-tips-legislation-passes-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>.
&#8220;Today, I went with Senator Rosen to the floor to secure Senate passage of the bill,&#8221; he added. &#8220;This legislation will have a lasting impact on millions of Americans by protecting the hard-earned dollars of blue-collar workers, the very people who are living paycheck-to-paycheck. I urge my colleagues in the House to pass this important bill and send it to the President’s desk to be signed into law.&#8221;
According to a Congress.gov <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/129" target="_blank" rel="noopener">summary</a>, the bill, as introduced, allows workers in tip-heavy jobs to deduct up to $25,000 in reported cash tips from their taxes unless they earned over a threshold, which is $160,000 for 2025 and adjusted annually for inflation. It also expands business tax credits to cover payroll taxes on tips from beauty services such as haircare and spa treatments.
Cruz&#8217;s office says the bill &#8220;exempts &#8216;cash tips&#8217; — cash, credit and debit card charges, and checks — from federal income tax by allowing taxpayers to claim a 100% deduction at filing for tipped wages. The updated text includes guardrails to ensure only traditionally tipped employees will benefit from No Tax on Tips.&#8221;
The legislation now heads to the House, which is moving to pass through the reconciliation process a much <a href="https://docs.house.gov/meetings/BU/BU00/20250516/118284/BILLS-119pih.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">larger bill</a> that aims to provide funding for Trump’s domestic priorities, retain tax cuts from 2017, raise the debt limit, and more.
One of the megabill&#8217;s many provisions features a deduction for &#8220;qualified&#8221; tips for individuals who work in &#8220;an occupation which traditionally and customarily received tips&#8221; from 2025 through 2028. It also contains sections dedicated to some of Trump&#8217;s other ideas, including no tax on overtime and no tax on auto loan interest.
Democrats have joined Republicans in supporting the push for &#8220;No Tax On Tips.&#8221; In fact, Vice President Kamala Harris <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/kamala-harris-steals-trumps-no-tax-on-tips-policy-proposal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stole</a> Trump&#8217;s proposal as they competed against each other for the White House in the 2024 election.
In a speech on the Senate floor, Rosen <a href="https://x.com/SenJackyRosen/status/1924933653894701465" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that she wanted the legislation from Cruz to succeed rather than &#8220;forcing working families to choose between keeping their healthcare or keeping their tips&#8221; with the more comprehensive &#8220;one big, beautiful bill,&#8221; alluding to efforts by GOP lawmakers to rein in spending on programs such as Medicaid.

Sen. Ted Cruz and Trump

Senate Unanimously Passes ‘No Tax On Tips Act’

Ted Cruz

After President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/in-capitol-hill-visit-trump-tells-house-gop-back-big-beautiful-bill-fool" target="_blank" rel="noopener">paid a visit</a> to Capitol Hill on Tuesday, pushing House Republicans to pass the &#8220;one big, beautiful bill,&#8221; GOP lawmakers made it clear they have not come to a resolution that would unify them behind the legislation, but are working toward doing so.
The bill, which is progressing through Congress via the reconciliation process, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/passing-trump-one-big-beautiful-bill-gop-duty-voters-white-house" target="_blank" rel="noopener">aims</a> to provide funding for Trump’s domestic priorities, retain the 2017 tax cuts, raise the debt limit, and more. With a slim House majority and near-certain Democrat opposition, Republicans can likely afford only a few defectors to send the bill to the Senate.
One key component that threatens to derail the House bid to pass the legislation is a provision to increase the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap to $30,000 for individuals earning $400,000 or less, up from the current $10,000 limit set to expire at the end of this year. A source told The Daily Wire that Trump urged House Republicans not to let SALT impede the bill&#8217;s progress, noting they could fight about the issue in the future.
However, GOP lawmakers from high-tax blue states signaled they were not ready to back down after the meeting with Trump, as evidenced by a <a href="https://x.com/sahilkapur/status/1924912782459154828" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> from Reps. Mike Lawler (R-NY), Nick LaLota (R-NY), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ), and Young Kim (R-CA).
&#8220;We share President Donald Trump&#8217;s call for unity within the House Republican Conference. A fair SALT deduction is a matter of fundamental fairness for the hardworking families we represent, including the many who proudly support President Trump and voted for him, in part, because he promised to restore SALT,&#8221; they said. &#8220;We hope his remarks today motivate the Speaker to advance a SALT proposal that delivers meaningful relief for our middle-class constituents, as we have worked in good faith with House Leadership for more than a year. Our states are donor states, consistently subsidizing so-called fiscally responsible red states.&#8221;
The source informed The Daily Wire how Trump told House Republicans that he was losing patience with all holdouts in the House GOP, including the SALT Caucus, as well as the conservative House Freedom Caucus, which is <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trumps-one-big-beautiful-bill-clears-hurdle-in-second-attempt-of-key-vote" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pushing</a> for more extensive spending cuts. He also discouraged them from touching Medicaid except for removing waste, fraud, and abuse with such moves as booting off illegal immigrants and making common-sense work requirements.
Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN), a member of the Freedom Caucus, <a href="https://x.com/RepOgles/status/1924856688009433267" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post to X that he agrees with Trump on cutting waste, fraud, and abuse. &#8220;Liberal states like California and New York are abusing Medicaid — and making you pay for it,&#8221; he added. &#8220;Illegal aliens and freeloaders have no right to taxpayer-funded benefits. Cut the waste- accomplish the America First mandate.&#8221;
Another member of the group, Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), <a href="https://x.com/chiproytx/status/1924856914086625761" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post of his own: &#8220;Congress doesn’t need to layer more central planning garbage on top of more garbage (blue state winners/losers, [Inflation Reduction Act] subsidies etc). We are bloated enough. And broke. Limit gov spending, put money back in the pockets of hard working Americans and get the hell out of their way.&#8221;
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), who is closely aligned with Trump on the bill and has voiced aspirations for getting the lower chamber to pass the legislation by Memorial Day, expressed confidence after the Capitol Hill meeting.
&#8220;Republicans are on the verge of delivering REAL, POSITIVE results for the American people,&#8221; Johnson <a href="https://x.com/SpeakerJohnson/status/1924884657478221892" target="_blank" rel="noopener">declared</a> in a post on X. &#8220;President Trump has done his part to fix the disaster [former President Joe] Biden left us, it’s time Congress does ours. We cannot leave the American people waiting.&#8221;
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Rules Committee Ranking Member James McGovern (D-MA) publicly released a letter addressed to Jeffries griping about the plan for a rules panel <a href="https://rules.house.gov/media/announcement/meeting-announcement-may-21-2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">meeting</a> at 1 a.m. on the megabill they claimed would cause millions of Americans to lose their health care, benefit the wealthy, and add more than $5 trillion to the national debt.
&#8220;It is deeply troubling that you would attempt to jam this legislation down the throats of the American people. What else are you hiding?&#8221; the Democrats <a href="https://x.com/Olivia_Beavers/status/1924841481363132462" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a>. &#8220;It is imperative that you immediately reschedule the meeting so that it may be debated in the light of day.&#8221;

President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson

Here’s What Key House Factions Are Saying After Trump’s Visit On ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’

President Donald Trump paid a visit to Capitol Hill on Tuesday, pushing House Republicans to pass the &#8220;one big, beautiful bill&#8221; with encouragement mixed with some criticism.
Trump told reporters his meeting with GOP lawmakers was about &#8220;love&#8221; and &#8220;unity,&#8221; but then mentioned, &#8220;Anybody that didn&#8217;t support it as a Republican, I would consider to be a fool.&#8221;
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President Trump after meeting with <a href="https://twitter.com/HouseGOP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HouseGOP</a>: &#8220;It was a meeting of unity&#8230;Anybody that didn&#8217;t support it as a Republican I would consider to be a fool&#8230;This was a meeting of love.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/cARFr21Ps9">pic.twitter.com/cARFr21Ps9</a>
— CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1924846821857267952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
House Republicans continue to clash about spending cuts and certain provisions in the bill that is progressing through Congress via the reconciliation process, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/passing-trump-one-big-beautiful-bill-gop-duty-voters-white-house" target="_blank" rel="noopener">aiming</a> to provide funding for Trump’s domestic priorities, retain the 2017 tax cuts, raise the debt limit, and more.
One key component that threatens to derail the House bid to pass the bill is the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap. GOP members from high-tax blue states are fighting for a higher limit than the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/this-tax-deduction-cap-threatens-to-derail-trumps-one-big-beautiful-bill" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$30,000</a> that made it into the legislation.
Trump urged House Republicans not to let SALT impede the bill&#8217;s progress, noting they could fight about the issue in the future, a source familiar with the matter told The Daily Wire.
Medicaid has been another sticking point.
According to the source, Trump told Republicans not to touch the program, except for removing waste, fraud, and abuse — such as booting off illegal immigrants and common-sense work requirements.
Trump conveyed that he is losing patience with all holdouts in the House GOP, including the SALT Caucus and the conservative House Freedom Caucus pushing for more extensive spending cuts, per the source. He also made it clear that he wants every Republican to vote in favor of the bill.
With a slim House majority and near-certain Democrat opposition, Republicans can likely afford only a few defectors to send the bill to the Senate.
One person Trump publicly called out was Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) after a reporter noted that the congressman <a href="https://x.com/cspan/status/1924819640665936195" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suggested</a> the bill would result in &#8220;Biden levels&#8221; of spending and bigger deficits.
&#8220;I don’t think Thomas Massie understands government. I think he’s a grandstander, frankly,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://x.com/cspan/status/1924819640665936195" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> before the meeting, adding later, &#8220;I think he should be voted out of office.&#8221;
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President Trump on <a href="https://twitter.com/RepThomasMassie?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepThomasMassie</a>: &#8220;I don&#8217;t think Thomas Massie understands government. I think he&#8217;s a grand-stander, frankly&#8230;I think he should be voted out of office.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/YCLdSac95d">pic.twitter.com/YCLdSac95d</a>
— CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1924819640665936195?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Punchbowl News co-founder Jake Sherman <a href="https://x.com/JakeSherman/status/1924831698442653802" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> on X that Trump &#8220;griped&#8221; about Massie while speaking to House Republicans. &#8220;He asked if Massie was in the room, which he was, and then compared him to [Republican Senator from Kentucky] RAND PAUL. He said he could never get their votes no matter what,&#8221; the journalist added.
Massie alluded to the exchange with a tongue-in-cheek post of his own.
&#8220;I usually don’t talk about private conversations in our GOP meetings but the rumors are true… President Trump said that although I have similar hair to @RandPaul, he thinks mine is better,&#8221; Massie <a href="https://x.com/RepThomasMassie/status/1924849560431562992" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.

President Trump Attends GOP House Caucus Meeting On Capitol Hill As Budget Bill Faces Resistance

In Capitol Hill Visit, Trump Tells House GOP: Back ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Or Be A ‘Fool’

House Republicans

Thomas Massie

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