Budget Bill Favors Polluters and Billionaires, Congress claims
TL/DR –
Congressional Republicans are using a process called budget reconciliation to fast-track federal bills related to spending without needing a single Democratic vote. The Republicans have drafted a bill that would exploit natural resources, cut environmental justice funding and clean energy tax credits, and give handouts to polluting industries and tax breaks for billionaires. The Inflation Reduction Act, which was passed through reconciliation and made America a leader in clean energy technology, is under threat of being undone, with Republicans prioritising tax windfalls for billionaires and drilling expansion in every US region.
Understanding Budget Reconciliation and its Implications
Congressional Republicans are leveraging a method known as budget reconciliation to increase the speed and efficiency of implementing the Trump administration’s policies. This tool allows swift passage of federal bills concerning spending and requires only a simple majority vote in both Houses of Congress.
The current bill proposed by the Republicans aims to sell public lands and oceans to potential buyers, exploit natural resources, and reduce funding for environmental justice and clean energy tax credits. These funds are instead being redirected to polluting industries and tax breaks for billionaires.
What you can do: We encourage you to contact your elected officials and urge them to prioritize the interests of American citizens over billionaires and polluting industries. It’s crucial for Congress members to actively oppose the reconciliation bill due to its potential harmful effects on energy prices, public lands and oceans, and public health and environmental programs.
What is Budget Reconciliation?
Budget reconciliation is a process that allows Congress to expedite federal spending and savings changes. This method was employed to pass the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, a $369 billion package aimed at climate solutions and advancing America’s clean energy technology. The Act also provided tax breaks for middle-class and low-income households that improved their home energy usage.
Typically, federal budget proposals require 60 Senate votes, implying bipartisan support. However, budget reconciliation only needs a simple majority vote and is currently being exploited by a Republican-controlled Senate to reverse the progress made under the Inflation Reduction Act. This includes pushing through legislation that allows billionaire polluters to harm the environment and citizens without facing any repercussions.
Impacts of the Republican’s Budget Reconciliation
Republicans have been using budget reconciliation to include substantive policy changes that directly affect federal fiscal policy. Some of their “budget” priorities for the 2025 reconciliation process include offshore oil-and-gas drilling, privatization of public lands, opening additional lands to oil, gas, and coal leasing, and removing legal checks and balances that have protected public lands for generations. These changes also include cutting popular clean energy tax credits, environmental justice program funding, and grants that aid coastal communities in building resilience against natural disasters.
Through their actions, the Republicans are knowingly stripping their communities of hundreds of billions of dollars in investments. This will lead to a loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs and higher energy bills and environmental damage for hardworking individuals.
The Inflation Reduction Act is a bipartisan success that has created over 400,000 jobs across 48 states and Puerto Rico. It’s also contributed to the doubling growth rate of clean energy jobs nationwide. The Act has the potential to generate more than $3.8 trillion in economic benefits while providing affordable, reliable clean energy to Americans, provided it is not gutted by the Republicans.
This budget reconciliation bill isn’t just favoring billionaires and polluters; it transfers a significant amount of power to the Trump administration. It shields the administration’s actions from the courts and grants it the authority to penalize anyone who contradicts them. This bill poses a grave threat to civil society in our country.
What you can do:
As the cost of energy, healthcare, and food rises, House and Senate Republicans are asking people to do more with less. Yet, they are providing substantial handouts and tax breaks to polluting industries, huge corporations, and the nation’s wealthiest individuals. We urge you to contact your congressional representatives and ask them to protect our health, public lands, and social safety nets.
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