Interview: Sen. John Barrasso on a potential Vice President JD Vance, the tax code, the Senate map, and more

Sen. John Barrasso (R., Wyo.), the number three Republican in the Senate, is running unopposed to be the next Republican Senate Whip. Barrasso spoke with the Washington Reporter about how he’ll work as Whip, his relationship with Sen. JD Vance (R., Ohio), his thoughts on tax policy, this year’s Senate map, and more.

 “JD is a great friend of mine,” Barasso said, praising Vance’s “whole life experience [which] has prepared him for this moment to become our nominee for vice president.” While Barrasso would “hate to see him leave the Senate…we don’t want him hanging around the Senate casting tie-breaking votes like Kamala Harris had to do. We aren’t fighting for a tie in the Senate. We’re fighting for a strong majority.”

Barrasso’s priorities with a GOP majority are to “make life more affordable, secure the border, unleash American energy,” and fight against the IRS’s plan to collect taxes in-house via a direct filing system, which would make the IRS “tax collector, auditor, enforcer, and now tax preparer,” Barasso said.

The IRS “is recklessly spending money on an unnecessary program that puts Americans and their private data at risk,” he said, adding that “we will fight like hell to make sure [direct filing] doesn’t become mandatory.”

Barrasso is also the top Republican on the Senate’s Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and said that Republicans have hopes to “make America energy dominant one again” by defeating the “Biden-Harris administration‘s attacks on] oil, natural gas, and coal — energy sources that are available and reliable.”

“As President Trump said on Thursday in Milwaukee, unleashing American energy is a top priority for Republicans next year,” Barrasso said “We will do all we can to help energy workers and make life more affordable for all Americans.” 

Below is a transcript of our interview with Sen. John Barrasso (R., Wyo.), lightly edited for clarity.

Washington Reporter:
You’re running for GOP Whip, unopposed. What would your plans be? How would you run the Whip’s office, and what would your priorities be? 

Sen. John Barrasso:
We have one of the most important elections of my lifetime this November. We are laser-focused on electing Donald Trump, JD Vance, and a Republican majority in Congress. I’m working hard and traveling the country to make sure Republicans win big in November. The American people can’t afford four more years of failed Democratic leadership. We have solutions to make life more affordable, secure the border, and unleash American energy. Republicans will be ready on day one with solutions to get America back on track.

Washington Reporter:
You have criticized the IRS’s expansion into tax filing with its “direct file” system by pointing out a conflict of interest. What can Republicans do to stop this?

Sen. John Barrasso:
The IRS wants to be the tax collector, auditor, enforcer, and now tax preparer — a judge, jury, and Lord High Executioner. The private sector has provided taxpayers with free file options for years. These cost taxpayers and the government absolutely nothing. The IRS is recklessly spending money on an unnecessary program that puts Americans and their private data at risk. It gives the government full control over the tax filing system. Republicans will continue to push policies that shrink the size of this supersized IRS. 

Washington Reporter: 
If this program is not stopped, do you think in a few years it could become mandatory for all taxpayers?

Sen. John Barrasso:
We will fight like hell to make sure it doesn’t become mandatory. Taxpayers have free, private sector options available to them. The IRS cannot become the tax preparer and the tax collector. 

Washington Reporter:
Tell us about your relationship with Sen. JD Vance — how would you work with him if he’s the President of the Senate?

Sen. John Barrasso:
JD is a great friend of mine. His whole life experience has prepared him for this moment to become our nominee for vice president. I’ll hate to see him leave the Senate, though. JD will always be a valued and respected member of the Republican Conference, but we don’t want him hanging around the Senate casting tie-breaking votes like Kamala Harris had to do. We aren’t fighting for a tie in the Senate. We’re fighting for a strong majority. 

Washington Reporter: 
You’ve been a leader on energy independence. If Republicans sweep this fall, what will your energy policies be? And what would this mean for American families? 

Sen. John Barrasso:
Republicans will make America energy dominant once again. Democrats have made us energy dependent on our enemies. The Biden-Harris administration is targeting oil, natural gas, and coal — energy sources that are available and reliable. Nonstop Democratic attacks on American energy are why families are struggling to fill their tanks and pay their electric bills. As President Trump said on Thursday in Milwaukee, unleashing American energy is a top priority for Republicans next year. We will do all we can to help energy workers and make life more affordable for all Americans. 

Washington Reporter: 
How are the Senate races shaping up this cycle?

Sen. John Barrasso:
Our Senate candidates are winners. The American people heard directly from our candidates earlier this week. What they heard are candidates who understand the pain they are going through because of failed Democratic policies. Candidates who care about them and about getting our country back on track. These are the candidates who will beat Democrats in Ohio, Montana, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Nevada. Republicans are united in our mission to elect a Republican Senate majority.