WASHINGTON (WTAQ-WLUK) — The House of Representatives voted 218-214 Thursday afternoon to give final approval to President Donald Trump’s $4.5 trillion mega-spending plan known as the “one big, beautiful bill.”
Republican lawmakers met the deadline imposed by Trump, who had said he wanted the bill on his desk and ready for his signature no later than the Fourth of July.
The nearly 900-page legislation is a significant milestone for Trump and his party, especially given the GOP’s struggles to get the bill across the finish line. It’s a sprawling collection of tax breaks, spending cuts and new money for national defense and deportations.
In order to offset the tax revenue loss, the spending package includes $1.2 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and food stamps and imposes new work requirements for able adults not serving as caregivers.
Democrats in Congress were united against the bill, criticizing it as a tax giveaway to the wealthy at the expense of America’s middle class and most vulnerable populations.
Here’s what Wisconsin’s two senators, as well as Northeast Wisconsin’s two representatives, said about the passage of the “big, beautiful bill.”
Sen. Ron Johnson (R)
With President Biden in the White House and majorities in both chambers of Congress, Democrats had every opportunity to repeal the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and increase taxes on “the rich.” They did not do so. Instead of returning to a reasonable pre-pandemic level of spending and deficits, once the economy recovered, they incurred deficits averaging $1.9 trillion over four years. If that wasn’t bad enough, President Biden also left office with open borders and raging wars.
By passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, we have avoided a $4 trillion automatic tax increase and a default on our debt. Due to the enormous messes Biden and congressional Democrats left us, we are also providing additional funding for border security and defense.
While the bill is a step forward, we have only just begun the difficult task of reducing spending, and there is still a long way to go. A rigorous effort will soon be announced to review every program and every line of the federal budget, looking for ways to reduce spending to a reasonable pre-pandemic level. I look forward to being fully involved in that effort to put America on a path to fiscal sustainability.
U.S. Rep. Tony Wied, R-8th District
Today, House Republicans delivered on our promises to the American people by passing a once-in-a-generation bill that will enact President Trump’s agenda. Our One Big Beautiful Bill will cut taxes for working families, provide the necessary resources to secure our border, preserve and protect Medicaid and SNAP for the most vulnerable Americans, support our great farmers, rein in reckless federal spending, and put America First. I was proud to vote in favor of this bill, which will greatly benefit hardworking, middle-class Americans. I look forward to President Trump signing it into law so we can continue our work to Make America Great Again!
U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-6th District
The passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill is a historic victory for Americans, as we’ve avoided the largest tax hike in our nation’s history. The American people gave us a mandate after four years of failure under President Biden to revive prosperity in our country. I’m proud to stand with Congressional Republicans and President Trump to deliver a bill that works in the best interests of Americans. The One Big Beautiful Bill strengthens our government programs for the people they were intended to serve, while rooting out the waste, fraud, and abuse that have plagued our systems for far too long. Hardworking Americans will see the benefits of our commonsense conservative policies. I was proud to vote yes to help move America toward further greatness.
Senate Republicans narrowly passed the “big, beautiful bill” Tuesday in a 51-50 vote, with Vice President JD Vance breaking the tie. Three Republican senators joined all Democrats in voting no.
In the House, two Republicans voted against the measure, along with all Democrats.
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