Trump’s Bill Faces Setback in Committee
In Washington, President Trump’s ambitious legislation, described as a “big, beautiful bill,” stumbled during its first committee vote on Friday.
A group of five Republican representatives—Chip Roy from Texas, Ralph Norman from South Carolina, Josh Brecheen from Oklahoma, Andrew Clyde from Georgia, and Lloyd Smucker from Pennsylvania—voted against advancing the substantial settlement measures. The vote ended with a 21-16 defeat.
After the results, Budget Committee Chairman Geordy Arrington, a Republican from Texas, mentioned, “I don’t think we’ll be back today,” indicating the committee might reconvene on Monday.
Roy expressed concerns about the bill’s shortcomings, particularly regarding its implications for the deficit. He pointed to estimates from independent budget committees, which suggested a potential $3.3 trillion increase in the deficit over the next ten years if the bill is enacted in its current form.
Furthermore, the bill could lead to an additional $5.2 trillion deficit by 2034 due to restrictions on payments to the IRS, including those related to tips, overtime, and Social Security income, according to the same estimates.
Roy criticized the proposal, stating, “We’re writing checks that cannot be cashed, and our kids will pay the price. Without major reforms, I’m a ‘no’ on this bill, today, tomorrow, Sunday.”
Norman agreed that while the proposed $3.8 trillion tax cut was appealing, he remained adamantly opposed until changes were made regarding Medicaid benefits that extend to healthy Americans and non-citizens in emergency situations.
Details in the bill showed that revisions to Medicaid wouldn’t take effect until 2029, adding to the frustration among committee members like Roy and Norman.
The hearing concluded abruptly on Friday morning after Arrington acknowledged ongoing challenges in the process.
With only three Republican committee members dissenting, the budget resolution could potentially pass with a simple majority in both the House and Senate, utilizing reconciliation procedures.
Trump had previously urged Republicans to support “One, a big beautiful bill!” in social media posts, asserting this legislation would cut taxes for Americans while protecting Medicaid for those in genuine need.
He further claimed that the bill could face severe consequences without the proposed tax cuts, predicting a 65% tax increase, blaming Democrats for the situation.
According to estimates from the Congressional Budget Office, taxpayers had contributed over $16 billion under the Biden administration for emergency medical services for illegal immigrants through Medicaid.
Earlier this week, the House Energy Commerce Committee introduced a plan for $900 billion in spending cuts, including Medicaid, by adding work requirements.
House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed optimism about negotiations, stating, “If you enhance the salt deduction, you’ll need to find more savings. We’re working toward a deficit-neutral approach,” and emphasized a commitment to deliberations over the weekend.
