WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator James Lankford, a key member of the Senate Finance Committee, joined Mornings with Maria to discuss the future of tax reform, federal spending, and growing concerns about lawlessness in cities like Los Angeles. The conversation centered around a sweeping legislative effort being dubbed “One Big Beautiful Bill,” with Lankford emphasizing the urgency of passing it by the end of June to avoid major tax hikes in 2025.

Making Full Expensing Permanent

One of the most critical components of the bill is the push to make full expensing permanent for small businesses and manufacturers. While the House version proposed a five-year limit, Lankford and Senate colleagues aim to make this tax feature a lasting benefit.

“Full expensing in the year of purchase is essential for every small business and manufacturer in the country,” Lankford stated. “We’re working to ensure the Senate leaves its mark by securing permanence.”

The legislation also seeks to establish permanent tax rates for corporations, pass-through entities, and individuals—removing calendar-based expiration dates and giving businesses more certainty for long-term planning.

SALT Deduction Increase Faces Senate Resistance

The House’s proposal to raise the SALT (State and Local Tax) deduction cap from $10,000 to $40,000 has met resistance in the Senate. Lankford highlighted that the measure would disproportionately benefit high-tax states at the expense of states like Oklahoma.

“It would cost federal taxpayers $353 billion. Why should taxpayers in Oklahoma pay more so that residents in New York or California can pay less?” Lankford asked.

Pushing Back Against International Tax Overreach

Lankford also addressed concerns over international tax measures, specifically those introduced by the Biden administration without congressional approval. These include the OECD Pillar Two tax rules and other retaliatory measures like the digital services tax.

“The U.S. Constitution is clear—revenue measures must start in the House. We won’t let the executive branch unilaterally rewrite international tax codes that penalize American companies,” said Lankford.

To counter this, the Senate is working on Section 899, designed to push back on these extraterritorial policies and defend American economic sovereignty.

Realistic Spending Cuts and Deficit Strategy

Lankford supports fiscally responsible spending cuts, echoing concerns raised by Senators Rand Paul, Ron Johnson, and Rick Scott. But he also advocates a pragmatic approach:

“You can’t fix everything in one bill, but you also can’t do nothing. Let’s get as much done as we can now, then move on to the next opportunity.”

The senator stressed the importance of finding consensus—51 votes in the Senate and 218 in the House—to get meaningful deficit reduction legislation across the finish line.

Lawlessness in Los Angeles: A Call for Order

Switching gears, Lankford condemned the ongoing anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles, calling out California Governor Gavin Newsom for enabling lawlessness in the name of protest.

“We have a governor celebrating protests for illegal activity. President Trump has been clear—we support legal immigration, not chaos,” Lankford said, adding that cities must uphold law and order for public safety.

Homeland Security and Readiness for Global Events

Lankford, a member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, also addressed the country’s readiness for massive upcoming events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

“We’re not ready yet,” he admitted. “There’s work to be done on airport infrastructure, visa processing, and security.”

The committee is also investigating concerning reports, such as the entry of Chinese nationals with biological agents, underscoring the urgency of enhancing homeland security before these global events.