Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” has clearly shown what’s at risk for American families. Thousands will lose their health insurance; others are confronted with losing food assistance. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) scored the bill saying the legislation also cuts clean energy credits, aid for student borrowers, benefits for federal workers and consumer protection services and requires selling off public natural resources.
House Republicans “did whatever it took” to pass Trump’s bill by slipping in provisions that had nothing to do with the budget. Now it’s the Senate’s turn and they must remove provisions such as a ban on states regulating artificial intelligence. This means finding a way around the “Byrd rule” which doesn’t permit items like that in the budget reconciliation bill. This could cause a “dust up” with the Senate parliamentarian who hears arguments for and against throwing out issues when challenged as violating the “Byrd rule”.
Now at risk is Medicare. Medicare changes are on the table as the Senate works on the “Big Beautiful Bill”. The Hill reported this morning that some Senators are going on a DOEE raid to root out waste, fraud and abuse. Sounds familiar…as that is one of the reasons used for the Medicaid cuts the CBO estimates 7.6 million will lose healthcare coverage. The exact number is subject to ongoing analysis and revisions.
According to The Washington Post and The Brookings Institution, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) may be at risk. There have been recent discussions in Congress about changes to the Affordable Care Act. These could lead to fewer Americans using ACA’s marketplaces and Medicaid.
The risk list will grow as Trump’s team go over the work of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. This week the first list of spending cuts was sent to Congress. It asks Congress to slash $9.4 billion in already-appropriated spending. This procedure is known as a “rescission”. The Public Broadcasting and various foreign aid programs are at risk. Elon Musk had said these organizations push inappropriate ideologies. This is just the beginning of “rescission” requests.
Congress does not normally look with favor on rescission packages. Remember, the power of the purse rests with the Congress. Citizens may want to remind Congress!
What does all this mean going forward? Constituents must bring more pressure on their congressional representatives to speak up…particularly Republicans. Local civic groups must step forward…before programs their communities need are put at risk. On going protests now focused on deporting immigrants should also begin to include cutting budgets of vital federal assistance programs.
If Members of Congress and leaders in various national organizations are looking for a road map and ideas, they may want to read a chapter in former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi book “The Art of Power”. In the chapter “Health Care is a Right—Not a Privilege”.
We cannot wait for the someone else to lead the way.