House Republicans Push Through Major Budget Bill
One Big Beautiful Bill Act set to extend tax cuts, increase defense spending, and raise debt limit
A Tight Race
House Republicans are poised to pass a significant budget bill, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Backed by President Trump, the bill has been a contentious topic within the party. With a narrow majority, Republicans could only afford to lose a few votes, making the passage of this bill a tight race.
Bill Details
The bill focuses on:
- Extending Trump's 2017 tax cuts
- New spending on defense and immigration enforcement
- Raising the debt limit by $5 trillion
To fund these initiatives, the bill cuts spending on various programs, notably Medicaid, which could result in around 11 million people losing health coverage.
Passage and Future Debates
The bill's passage was not smooth sailing. House Speaker Mike Johnson had to work hard to convince holdout lawmakers to support the bill. The final vote was close, with a tally of 219 to 213.
The bill's sheer size, nearly 1,000 pages, reflects a major shift in federal spending priorities.
Now, the bill moves to the floor for debate. If Republicans maintain their support, the bill could reach President Trump's desk by Friday. However, the fight over this bill is far from over. Democrats plan to use it as a key issue in their campaign to regain control of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections.
Impact
The bill represents a significant change in the federal government's role, shifting resources from:
- Social safety nets
- Clean energy investments
To:
- Tax cuts
- Immigration enforcement
- National defense
The impact of these changes will be felt for years to come.
