Trump’s “big and beautiful” bill stagnates as Republican conservatives block Budget Committee vote
The panel rejected the 1,116-page “a large bill bill” with a 21-16 vote, a stunning condemnation now threatens House Speaker Mike Johnson’s plan to vote for the measure next week.
Despite Democrats unanimous opposition to the bill, five Republicans broke the ranks and demanded more aggressive spending on Medicaid and green energy subsidies. They warned that bills including major tax breaks would further inflate Treasury bonds, now at $36 trillion.
“Something needs to change, or you won’t get my support,” said Rep. Chip Roy, one of the conservatives.
Conservatives demand deeper cuts, real-time work tasks
Voting exposed rifts within the Republican Party. Members of the House Freedom Caucus are urging a bigger reduction in government aid programs and hope new job requirements will allow Medicaid recipients to start immediately, rather than propose in 2029.
Rep. Roy criticized the bill’s structure, saying it had tax cuts in advance but delayed the savings: “We’re writing checks, we can’t cash out, and our children will pay.” Ralph Norman of RS.C. responded to the sentiment: “I’m a tough guy until we’re eliminated.” The opposition group initially included Roy, Norman of Oklahoma, Rep. Josh Brecheen of Rep. and Andrew Clyde of Georgia. Later, Rep. Lloyd Smucker of Pennsylvania also turned his vote to No.
New York Republicans push for bigger tax breaks
Meanwhile, Republicans from New York’s high-tax countries are heading in the opposite direction. They demand more generous state and tax deduction taxes than the state and local tax (salt) deductions in the current bill, which could issue costs soar.
At the time of drafting, the legislation’s salt deduction cap would range from $10,000 to $30,000 for joint filings, up to $400,000. But Rep. Nick Lalota of New York and others hope to raise the cap to $62,000, and the single filer for couples $124,000.
“This always happens when you have a big bill like this,” said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise. “There are always final details that can be followed until the last minute.”
The core of Trump’s 2024 campaign vision
The defeated bill is at the heart of Trump’s economic platform. It aims to expand his 2017 tax cuts and add new rules he promised during the 2024 campaign, such as zero taxes on tips, overtime and some auto loans.
It also expanded the standard deduction to $32,000 for joint filers and raised the child tax credit to $2,500. Meanwhile, it allocated $350 billion to Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda and defense spending.
To fund the program, the bill proposes to remove key provisions of President Biden’s inflation reduction laws, especially the clean energy tax credit, and envisions more than $1 trillion in Medicaid and food aid programs.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the program could leave 7.6 million people without health insurance and reduce monthly food aid for about 3 million.
Democrats lashed out at the proposal as cruel and financially reckless. Rep. Brendan Boyle, the committee’s top Democratic, called it “unreasonable.”
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash. Mocking the bill’s name: “A big and beautiful betrayal.” Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-ky. “To pay, kids in Kentucky will be hungry, nursing homes and hospitals will be closed, and millions of Americans will be started with their health insurance,” said the report.
(Input from AP)
