LOS ANGELES (OC).–Passing the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” with the tying vote cast by 40-year-old Vice President J.D. Vance, Senate Republicans finished a grueling process, losing three votes in the process. Democrats, led by 75-year-old Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) voted as a block to oppose the bill claiming it would cut up to 14 million Medicaid subscribers because of new work eligibility requirements, endangering rural hospitals and nursing homes. But of the 78 million Medicaid subscribers, Democrats exaggerated the effect of tighten requirements, attempting to shore up fraud, despite other costs associated with the federal health care system for the poor. How ironic that Democrats main objections to the bill, the same ones Trump faced in 2017, claim it was a giveaway to the rich adding to the national debt. When do Democrats care about the national debt?
After the 940-page bill was read into the record by Democrats as a delay tactic, the Senate got to work in what they called “vote-a-rama,” a series of votes on various amendments and endless roll calls. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) found himself herding cats, unable to keep defections from Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), all of whom couldn’t square the $5 trillion increase in the debt ceiling over the next 10 years. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the bill would potentially remove 11.8 million from Medicaid roles by 2034, something exaggerated by Democrats saying the figure would be more like 16 million. But no one really knows the effect on Medicaid enrollment now around 78 million nationwide. Billionaire Elon Musk called the bill “PORKY PIG’S BIG PARTY,” underscoring more spending.
Musk has threatened any Senator approving the bill to face political opposition at their next election, something that he uses to intimidate politicians to see it his way. Musk, who was accused by Democrats of running the White House, now sits as a bitter enemy of Trump, showing, if nothing, else his erratic side. Musk had his way for months running the Government Efficiency Office [DOGE], slashing federal jobs right-and-left. Must became the enemy of the press but suddenly he’s their best friend now that he opposes Trump. Collins, during a long night of wrangling, tried to get her increase in taxes on earners about $25 million but it didn’t go anywhere. Some conservatives weren’t happy with the bill because it didn’t go far enough slashing government entitlement programs. Getting a budget passed in divided government came down to a razor thin margin.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) was focused on saving cuts to SNAP providing Alaska residents vital food assistance and more reimbursement for Alaska’s Medicaid dependent hospital system. At the end of the day, Murkowski, voted for the most imperfect bill, leaving a lot to be desired. More than anything, Trump got a continuation of his 2017 tax cuts, something Democrats call a giveaway to the rich. But keeping corporate takes rates low encourages businesses to come to the U.S. because of the favorable tax environment. So, the idea that an economic boom could result in more jobs, higher wages and more prosperity for ordinary Americans is not out of the question. Many GOP senators, like Rick Scott (D-Fl.), Mike Lee (R-Ut.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wy.) wanted to slash government spending more than the eventual bill.
Democrats accuse Republicans of favoring the rich but the bill eliminates tax-on-tips that punishes workers in the hospitality industry, something that should put more cash in their pockets. Trump’s bill provides $4.5 trillion in tax cuts, rolling back green energy subsidies for wind and solar energy, prompting objections from Democrats. Medicaid and SNAP stands to lose $1.2 trillion in cuts over 10 years, largely due to more stringent eligibility requirements, requiring recipients to work. Trump’s bill ads $350 billion to border security and national security, paying for deportations and other enforcement costs. Democrats opposed everything in the big beautiful bill, claiming it was all a giveaway to Trump’s billionaire friends, hinting at the political strategy heading into the 2026 Midterms. Democrats would have spent more on green energy and Medicare for all.
Trump’s big beautiful bill caused an uproar among Republicans because there’s uncertainty whether a booming economy can pay for many of the tax breaks given to companies and the nation’s richest citizens. If Trump gets the kind of rally on Wall Street, with the Federal Reserve finally poised to cut rates, the government should be taking in a lot more capital gains revenue in 2025. So, when it comes to all the Democrat detractors from Trump’s bill, they point to the booming economy under former President Joe Biden. No Democrats admits that after the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a snapback on jobs. Democrats multi-trillion dollar pandemic spending bills fueled the worst inflation seen in 40 years. So, if Trump gets the economic bounce that he’s looking for, the government should expect a sizable infusion of capital gains taxes from a booming stock market.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
