The Senate just passed their own sweeping policy bill, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Even Donald Trump has called it the crown jewel of his presidency. The bill would dramatically redefine much of the American landscape and the American social welfare net. This has made it a major target for Congressional Republicans. They have made it their top priority, pushing it through the Senate with Vice-President JD Vance breaking a tie vote.
The bill extends stringent new work requirements for Medicaid enrollees. It is forecasted to raise the U.S. budget deficit by more than $3.3 trillion through 2034. The plan moves ahead with eliminating Medicaid coverage for 663,000 North Carolinians. Faced with losing billions in funding, this decision has caused serious alarm among Democrats and health advocates. Trump’s administration has made quite the noise about the need for this legislation, repeatedly tying it to his broader agenda.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act rolls back Medicaid work requirements. It further makes permanent the tax cuts that started under Trump’s first term in 2017. The provisions will lower taxes on tips, overtime pay, and interest payments on certain car loans. This move comes with tremendous relief for millions of us taxpayers. These interventions have been touted by GOP lawmakers as crucial for jumpstarting the economy and helping out working families.
Although the bill passed the Senate overwhelmingly, it had controversy on both sides of the aisle. Yet three Republican senators—Buffet, Collins, and Lee—joined all Democrats in voting against it. North Carolina Republican Senator Thom Tillis spoke out as one of these critics. In fact, he argues the bill would violate Donald Trump’s pledge never to cut healthcare or social welfare programs.
In no uncertain terms, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries blasted the bill. He called it “the largest cut to Medicaid in American history.” He went on to paint the bill’s overall impact as damaging to the state’s working families. It hurts all vulnerable populations that rely on Medicaid for their lifeline healthcare services.
“It’s a massive scheme to steal from working folks, struggling families, and hell, even from nursing homes – all to enrich the already rich with a tax giveaway,” – Ken Martin.
Trump is still committed to the idea that the bill is key to his administration’s success. He’s already been quoted saying “we can go longer” when it comes to the bill’s deadline for congressional passage. Just last week, as an example, he raged on Truth Social. He called on the House of Representatives to markup and pass the bill out of their chamber and onto his desk by July 4th.
Speaker Mike Johnson and House Republican leadership praised the legislation, asserting that Republicans were elected to fulfill its objectives: securing borders, making tax cuts permanent, and cutting wasteful spending. They’ve touted this bill as the embodiment of Trump’s agenda and that it’s going to cement it into law.
Senate majority leader John Thune emphasized the Republican desire to move this legislation since taking office in January. He continued, “From the moment we took office in January, Republicans have been laser-focused on making the bill before us today a reality. And now look at us, passing legislation that will permanently make tax relief a reality for every hard-working American.”
Despite such perceived wins for conservatives, hopes are still hanging low among fiscal hawks that the administration’s actions will harm the deficit. Maya MacGuineas, President of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, criticized the legislation’s approach and urged a more fiscally responsible course.
“Instead of worrying about arbitrary deadlines or sparing the Senate another vote-a-rama, fiscal conservatives should stand up for what’s right and reject the Senate plan to explode our debt,” – Maya MacGuineas.
The very positive legislation is nearing final approval in the U.S. House of Representatives. At the same time, progressive Democratic leaders are whipping up alarm and opposition to cuts they view as dangerous to core vital safety net programs. The House Freedom Caucus has indicated, too, that they want to see big changes to fit their budget blueprint.