Contrary to the popular narrative, the budget bill now before the Senate, touted as the “big, beautiful bill” by President Donald Trump, is not universally supported by Republicans. On the contrary, it has faced significant opposition, most notably from Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. The Sage from South Central is here to provide some context that the mainstream media might overlook.
Paul’s primary bone of contention with this supersized bill? The hike to the debt ceiling. Despite the “wimpy and anemic” cuts that House Republicans sent to the Senate, this seasoned Senator from Kentucky has stated that he would consider supporting the bill, if not for this particular detail. “But the debt ceiling increase is a nonstarter,” Paul declared. This is where critical thinking matters.
It’s easy for Trump to take a swipe at Paul, as he did on Tuesday morning, claiming that Paul shows “little understanding” of the BBB, or to mock him for frequently voting ‘NO’ on legislation. “Rand Paul has very little understanding of the BBB, especially the tremendous GROWTH that is coming,” Trump posted on Truth Social. He even went as far as calling Paul’s ideas “crazy” and suggesting the people of Kentucky can’t stand him.
What they’re not telling you is that Paul isn’t Trump’s only hurdle in the Senate. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., has repeatedly criticized the bill for not cutting nearly enough spending. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla…, is also advocating for “fiscal sanity” in the bill. Other Senators are concerned about cuts to Medicaid, and House GOP leadership is preparing for Senate counterparts to dismantle the state and local taxes provisions that were a key point of contention in the lower chamber.
The solution isn’t more government, it’s more freedom. Trump’s call for Republicans to push the bill through before July 4th doesn’t change the fact that the bill, in its current state, seems to be more about political posturing than fiscal responsibility.
Here’s the bottom line. We need to look at the hard data, not emotional appeals. That’s not just my opinion—that’s what the evidence shows.
