Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) was similarly ornery during the battle earlier this year to repeal Obamacare, although he ultimately ended up voting in favor of the GOP’s health care plans. | Getty First Republican senator breaks with GOP on tax bill

Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin said Wednesday that he does not support the current versions of the Senate and House GOP’s tax bills — becoming the first Republican senator to outright oppose the party’s plan to overhaul the tax system.

Johnson said in a statement that he objects to the bills' treatment of businesses known as pass-throughs, whose owners pay taxes on their companies through the individual side of the tax code.


“These businesses truly are the engines of innovation and job creation throughout our economy, and they should not be left behind. Unfortunately, neither the House nor Senate bill provide fair treatment, so I do not support either in their current versions," Johnson said. "I do, however, look forward to working with my colleagues to address the disparity so I can support the final version.”

Johnson, a not-unfamiliar headache for GOP leaders, first made his opposition known to the Wall Street Journal.

The senator, who co-founded a small manufacturing business before getting into politics, told the publication that he believes the Republican plan benefits corporations — which will see their tax rates drop from 35 percent to 20 percent under the proposal – over pass-throughs.

“I have no problems in making all American businesses competitive globally,” Johnson told the Journal. “This isn’t anti-big corporation at all. When you’re going to do a tax reform, you have to treat them equitably so they can maintain their competitive position here at home as we’re making them competitive globally.”

Johnson’s concerns have been well telegraphed.

He was visibly frustrated following the Senate Republican Conference meeting where GOP leaders unveiled the Senate tax reform bill’s broad strokes last week. Then, he told reporters he particularly objected to the bill’s treatment of pass-throughs, a broad range of businesses owned by a small group of people that can range from self-owned small businesses to the Trump Organization.

“I don’t think what they’re doing with pass-throughs is the right approach,” Johnson said following the meeting, though at the time he said he had “no red lines.”

Earlier Wednesday, Johnson also complained to reporters on Capitol Hill about how Republican leadership has handled the tax overhaul efforts, saying: “It’s not a good process.

The Wisconsin senator was similarly ornery during the battle earlier this year to repeal Obamacare, although he ultimately ended up voting in favor of the GOP’s health care plans.

Bernie Becker contributed to this report.