US Budget Reconciliation Bill: A Disastrous Foregone Conclusion?
TL/DR –
The budget reconciliation bill that was passed by the US House of Representatives and signed into law by Donald Trump will reportedly add $3.3tn to the deficit over the next decade and result in an estimated 17 million Americans losing health coverage due to drastic cuts in Medicaid and expiring Obamacare subsidies. The bill also includes massive tax cuts benefiting billionaires, and greatly expands the budget of Ice, Trump’s anti-immigrant secret police force. The bill is being criticized for its devastating impact on Americans seeking to get healthcare, buy food, secure an environmentally livable future, or go to school.
The US House of Representatives Passes Controversial Budget Reconciliation Bill
The budget reconciliation bill, scorned by many and feared for its potentially catastrophic impact on countless Americans, was passed on Thursday by the US House of Representatives. Regardless of widespread distaste, it appeared inevitable this gravely harmful measure would become law. The bill is now set to bear the signature of Donald Trump.
In the Senate, some Republicans expressed concern over the bill’s steep costs, with estimates it will add $3.3 tn to the deficit over the next decade. However, many quickly endorsed it, despite previous claims of fiscal responsibility. Moderate Republicans also fell in line quickly, despite initial resistance due to the bill’s considerable Medicaid cuts.
Once the bill reached the House, a few Republicans threatened to withhold their votes over budget and Medicaid concerns. However, they eventually succumbed, following Trump’s orders and ensuring the bill passed on July 3rd.
The moral implications of the bill have raised concerns, as it will drastically impact Americans. Its significant Medicaid cuts, alongside expiring Obamacare subsidies, will see an estimated 17 million Americans lose health coverage over the next decade. Cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), deep reductions in federal loans and grants for college students, and a shift towards tax breaks for climate-damaging sectors are also included in the bill. As a result, Medicare, the healthcare program for seniors, will also face cuts.
The consequences of the bill will only further strain America’s healthcare system. Around 200 Planned Parenthood clinics may have to close, limiting abortion access and putting contraception and screenings out of reach for numerous women. Predicted closures of rural hospitals and nursing homes will also put added pressure on the remaining healthcare facilities.
However, the bill does present some winners, namely billionaires who will enjoy the largest tax cut in US history. The budget of ICE, Trump’s anti-immigrant police force, also sees a substantial increase from $3.5bn to $48.5bn, despite lacking accountability.
In summary, the bill is set to make the majority of Americans sicker, poorer, and more fearful, while further enriching the affluent. Many question why Republicans, including those who criticized the bill initially, voted in favor of a bill that contradicts their values and threatens the welfare of their constituents.
Although the bill has widespread disapproval, its full ramifications will only become clear as its cuts to social services take effect. Many anticipate it will be used against the Republicans in the upcoming midterms, but it remains to be seen whether causing harm to Americans, including their own voters, will indeed have repercussions for the party.
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