Top Republican Senator Responds To Trump’s Suggestion For Higher Taxes On Rich

Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-WY) stuck to his conservative principles when asked about President Donald Trump raising the prospect of a tax increase on the highest income earners in the country.

NBC’s Kristen Welker pressed the top Senate Republican on the issue during the latest airing of “Meet The Press” after Trump said he would be “OK” with a tax hike on the rich to help lower and middle income workers in the “big, beautiful bill” — even as the president conceded “Republicans should probably not do it” considering the political consequences.

“I want to talk about the president’s tax bill. In order to get some of the savings needed to pass it, President Trump floated the idea of increasing taxes on the highest income earners, those making more than $2.5 million. He also acknowledged the politics are quite thorny, but, senator, would you support that? Increasing taxes on the highest income earners?” Welker asked.

“Well, I’m a conservative, and I don’t want to increase taxes on anybody,” Barrasso replied. “What you do know is that the Democrats, if we don’t get this bill passed, they’re going to raise taxes by $4 trillion on the American people. It will hit every working family in America with higher taxes. And you know, 84% of Americans don’t like what the Democrats are proposing. Our goal is to keep more money in people’s pockets so they can go to the store, pay their rent, save for retirement. That’s what our focus is — lower costs and higher wages.”

Barrasso refused to budge as Welker sought to clarify whether he was ruling out the possibility of increasing taxes on the highest income earners.

“I oppose raising taxes on anyone and the Democrats want to raise $4 trillion of taxes on everyone,” Barrasso said.

He added later: “I am against raising taxes on anyone. We’re working the bill through the process. It’s going through the House. We’re ironing out the details right now. We’re going to get a bill passed and signed by the president that’s going to put more money in people’s pockets and give them the certainty that taxes aren’t going to go up.”