Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson joined Chicago’s Morning Answer with Dan Proft to discuss the Senate’s deal to end the 40-day partial government shutdown and what he sees as the deeper problems driving Washington’s dysfunction. Johnson called the bipartisan agreement “a short-term patch” and urged lawmakers to pass his Eliminate Shutdowns Act, which would prevent future standoffs from disrupting the economy.
“The American economy shouldn’t hinge on Washington gridlock,” Johnson said. “If the government shutting down for a few weeks cuts GDP growth in half, that’s a sign the federal government has gotten far too big.”
Johnson argued that the real driver behind the stalemate was Democratic obstruction — a political strategy, he said, meant to weaken President Trump before the midterm elections. “They want the economy to tank so they can claim no success for Trump,” he said. “It’s cynical and destructive.”
He criticized Democrats for refusing to compromise on issues like Obamacare subsidies, calling the program “a failed experiment” that has driven health-care costs far beyond inflation. “Premiums have risen nearly 200 percent since Obamacare took effect,” Johnson said. “The so-called enhanced subsidies only disguise how broken the system really is. We’re funneling billions to insurance companies while families struggle with $14,000 deductibles.”
Johnson reiterated that extending the temporary subsidies, which were scheduled to sunset after two years, would be a mistake. Instead, he advocated redirecting federal funds directly to individuals to purchase plans that fit their needs, while restoring flexibility to states and private insurers. “We can cover people with pre-existing conditions using high-risk pools without destroying the marketplace,” he said. “Obamacare was designed to fail so Democrats could push for a single-payer system. We can’t let that happen.”
Beyond the immediate budget deal — which extends funding only through January 30 — Johnson warned that Congress will face the same impasse again early next year unless it reforms the process. His Eliminate Shutdowns Act, he explained, would automatically continue government funding on a two-week rolling basis when appropriations lapse, removing the threat of shutdowns as a bargaining tool.
“It’s a simple two-page bill that 90 percent of Americans would support,” Johnson said. “Shutdowns are a corrupt tactic used by appropriators to force more spending. My bill would take away that leverage and let Congress focus on long-term budgeting.”
The Wisconsin senator also called for shrinking the federal workforce through attrition, arguing that “there are simply too many people working for the government.” He proposed freezing hiring in nonessential agencies and reallocating existing employees to critical areas such as defense and border security.
Johnson concluded that real reform requires breaking Washington’s addiction to crisis management. “Every few months we have the same fight — kick the can, fund the bureaucracy, and call it progress,” he said. “It’s time to end shutdown politics, fix the budgeting process, and finally get our fiscal house in order.”