Photo: AP
House Republicans have passed President Donald Trump’s huge tax cuts and spending cuts bill. They wanted to finish it before the Fourth of July. The vote was very close, 218 to 214. Two Republicans voted no, along with all Democrats.
This bill is Trump’s main plan for his second term. Republican leaders worked all night to get it passed. President Trump also called some lawmakers himself to ask for their support. Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries gave a record-long speech for over eight hours to delay the vote because he was against the bill.
Trump was in Iowa when the bill passed. He thanked Republican lawmakers and said, “What they did is incredible.” He also said Democrats voted no because “they hate Trump — but I hate them too.” Trump plans to sign this bill into law on Friday at the White House.
The bill is nearly 900 pages long. It has $4.5 trillion in tax cuts, including:
Allowing workers to deduct tips and overtime pay.
A $6,000 tax deduction for most people over 65 earning under $75,000.
It also includes:
$350 billion for national security and Trump’s deportation plans.
Funds to develop a “Golden Dome” defence system to protect the U.S.
To pay for these tax cuts, the bill cuts $1.2 trillion from Medicaid (health care for low-income people) and food stamps. It makes people work to get these benefits, even some parents and older people. It also removes many tax breaks for green energy.
The Congressional Budget Office said the bill will increase the national debt by $3.3 trillion in 10 years. It also said about 11.8 million people will lose their health coverage.
Democrats called it a tax gift for the rich that hurts working families and poor people. Jeffries called it Trump’s “big ugly bill” and said it is like a crime against the American people because it takes away health care and food support.
During his speech, Democrats chanted Jeffries’ name. But a Republican lawmaker called his speech “a bunch of hogwash.”
The bill faced many problems. The Senate passed it earlier with Vice President JD Vance breaking the tie. In the House, Republicans had only a small majority, so they could not lose many votes.
Some Republicans were worried about the cuts to Medicaid. Others wanted even bigger spending cuts. But many felt they had to vote yes because Trump wanted it. Lawmakers were promised some benefits or projects in their home states if they supported the bill.
The bill removes parts of the Affordable Care Act, which expanded Medicaid under President Obama. It also takes away many of President Biden’s green energy plans.
Republicans said the tax cuts will stop taxes from going up and will help the economy grow. They said safety net programs should only help pregnant women, children, and disabled people who need it most. They also said these programs have waste and fraud.
However, a nonpartisan tax group said the richest people will benefit the most. The lowest-income Americans will get about $150 in tax cuts, middle-income people will get $1,750, and the richest will get about $10,950 next year.
After the vote, Republicans cheered “USA!” and played the song “Y.M.C.A.” at their celebration, just like Trump does at his rallies.
Federal government signs landmark agreements with Musqueam Nation, recognizing Aboriginal rights whi
Canada’s labour market faltered with a sharp drop in employment and higher unemployment, marking the
Samuel Ramirez Jr., added to FBI’s Ten Most Wanted, was captured in Mexico just 73 minutes after lis
A US federal judge dismissed subpoenas targeting Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell, saying prosecu
