Show-Me State Times

U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) appeared on Jesse Watters Primetime to discuss President Trump’s proposed “One Big Beautiful Bill” and the ongoing vote-a-rama in the Senate.

During the interview, Schmitt addressed concerns about the pending expiration of tax cuts enacted during President Trump’s first term. He stated, “Those tax cuts from President Trump in 2017 are set to expire at the end of this year, so if we don’t extend those and we want to make them permanent, you’re going to see a 4 trillion dollar tax increase. It would be cataclysmic for the economy, but for working families out there, that’s a couple of thousand dollars a year that’ll be taken out of their pocket. We saw that growth in President Trump’s first term. You saw record wage growth; every demographic, every socioeconomic class did much better. We want to build on that, so we need to make those permanent with no tax on tips, no tax on overtime. We’re also going to have money to secure the border, and finish that wall, front that money for more I.C.E. Agents, more detention beds for the deportations, more money for our military, and all with the savings. The CBO just came out with a score that $500 billion will be saved from deficit reduction. We’re going to have a growth economy so I think it’s important to put perspective here. Last Week, President Trump has that limited air strike, pivots to peace, then goes to NATO, they’re going to step up and do their job. Then he has that big Supreme Court win where these Universal injunctions are going to go away. Now we’ve got this Big Beautiful Bill we want to get on his big beautiful desk soon, and then we’re on to Rescissions.

 It’s important for us to get this done, and I’m confident we will. It might be the wee hours of the morning, so if it’s a baseball game, I’m not sure what inning we’re in-it might be the third or the fourth–but I think we’re going to get there.”

Schmitt criticized Democratic opposition to the bill: “It will be devastating, I think you’d see the markets respond to that. For average working folks who got a big benefit from those tax cuts, the standard reduction was double; 94 percent of tax filers use the standard deduction now. That would all go away. The hit would be at least a couple thousand dollars for every individual in this country; it’d be devastating. That’s why this work is so important; it would be a 4 trillion-dollar tax increase. What the Democrats are doing tonight, their argument is effectively they are supporting the largest tax increase in American history by wanting this thing to go down, and that’s just unacceptable. President Trump was clear on the campaign trail what he wanted to get done and it’s up to us to accomplish that and I think we’re going to get there.”

He also commented on recent actions by President Trump: “I think Democrats don’t know what stage of grief this is, but they are pretty far down the road. Election night was the first wave, then inauguration, then all the executive orders that have been successful. He has effectively secured the border. Now we are on the precipice of the biggest , most important piece of legislation we have seen in a generation, where you will have that tax relief, you’re going to finally finish the border wall and secure the border with the resources that you need. It’s just such a big deal and meet mass migration with mass deportations, you’ve got energy reform, you just had Secretary Burgum on. I think we are really encountering a golden age of America here. There’s a lot of things happening at once, not to mention these trade deals that are coming into place. You put all that into the first six, seven or eight months; that has time to breathe before you get into midterms and Trump’s full four years here. I think we will look back and say this was one of most consequential presidencies in American history.”

On legislative strategy regarding sending legislation back through Congress before July 4th: “All along here , We’ve been working with our partners in house , communicating with White House . I played golf with President Trump Saturday . There ’ s lot conversations happening along way . When House sent over their bill , we're working affect now make Big Beautiful Bill better then we'll send over House idea they'll take up get President's desk by July 4th . That plan , that's what we've all been working towards . This has been going while , we're closing moments Senate we'll get over House within couple days they can take up.”