Senator Ron Johnson publicly announced his opposition to the GOP’s new tax legislation on Wednesday, becoming the first Republican lawmaker to openly oppose his party’s efforts to restructure the nation’s outdated and over-complicated tax code.
According to Fox News, the Wisconsin legislator says he’s “not going to vote” for the proposed bill because it “unfairly benefited” corporations at the expense of small business owners; slashing support for “pass-through entities” such as limited liability corporations.
“If they can pass it without me, let them,” Johnson said. “I’m not going to vote for this tax package.”
“[Pass-through entities] truly are the engines of innovation and job creation throughout our economy, and they should not be left behind,” he said, adding, “I do look forward to working with my colleagues to address the disparity so I can support the final version.”
Johnson’s announcement raises serious questions over whether GOP Senators can pass the bill with their razor-thin 52-48 majority.
His statement means just two more Republican “no votes” can sink the party’s efforts to revamp the nation’s tax code.