Local leaders react as House passes Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill,’ sending it to president’s desk

House Republicans lifted President Donald Trump’s $4.5 trillion tax breaks and spending cuts bill to final passage Thursday, overcoming multiple setbacks to approve his signature second-term policy package before a self-imposed Fourth of July deadline.

The tight roll call, 218-214, came at a potentially high political cost, with two Republicans joining all Democrats opposed. GOP leaders worked overnight and the president himself leaned on a handful of skeptics to drop their opposition and send the bill to his desk to become law.

The outcome delivers a milestone for the president and his party, a longshot effort to compile a lengthy list of GOP priorities into what they called his “one big, beautiful bill,” an 800-plus page package. With Democrats unified in opposition, the bill will become a defining measure of Trump’s return to the White House, with the sweep of Republican control of Congress.

What’s in Trump’s tax bill?

At its core, the package’s priority is $4.5 trillion in tax breaks enacted in 2017 during Trump’s first term that would expire if Congress failed to act, along with new ones. This includes allowing workers to deduct tips and overtime pay, and a $6,000 deduction for most older adults earning less than $75,000 a year.

There’s also a hefty investment, some $350 billion, in national security and Trump’s deportation agenda and to help develop the “Golden Dome” defensive system over the U.S.

To help offset the lost tax revenue, the package includes $1.2 trillion in cutbacks to the Medicaid health care and food stamps, largely by imposing new work requirements, including for some parents and older people, and a major rollback of green energy tax credits.

The American Conservation Coalition Action (ACC Action) stated it applauded certain components of the bill, despite some challenges.

“While a large reconciliation bill is not the best policymaking vehicle, the final legislation preserves key policy levers needed to unleash clean, firm energy here in the United States,” ACC Action Managing Director Andrew Mill wrote in a statement. “We are pleased that the LPO will continue to finance much-needed energy innovation projects and appreciate Congress’s work to acknowledge the critical role of nuclear, hydropower, and geothermal resources.”

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates the package will add $3.3 trillion to the deficit over the decade and 11.8 million more people will go without health coverage.

Washington Health Benefit Exchange CEO Ingrid Ulrey issued a statement, saying the bill will have “devastating effects on the health and well-being of Washingtonians.”

“While we are very disappointed as this bill will result in fewer people covered and higher prices, we are also watching carefully the next decision point before Congress,” Ulrey added. “They must decide whether or not to extend the enhanced premium tax credits, which have been crucial to stabilizing customer premiums.”

Washington Democrats respond

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson also released a statement, writing, “This bill takes food from our most vulnerable Washingtonians to give tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy. This bill is only beautiful to billionaires.”

U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, called the legislation “Republicans’ big, ugly betrayal bill.”

Murray wrote in a statement that the bill “is the largest transfer of wealth from people who have the least, to the people who have the most, in our nation’s history. This bill is un-American and flat-out wrong.”

She noted that Trump’s tax bill will cut 17 million Americans’ health insurance and increase grocery costs for 40 million Americans.

Murray also touched on the defunding of Planned Parenthood, writing, “This bill is a step toward Republicans’ dystopian plan for a backdoor nationwide abortion ban where women can’t get the health care they need, no matter what state they live in.”

She said the bill will negatively impact famers in eastern and central Washington who rely on tax credits to power their farms.

“Republicans chose to ignore every warning about how terrible this bill really is and force it through, over the objections of Democrats and even members of their own party, for no other reason than because Trump said so,” Murray added. “In the end, the American people will have their voices heard and will show Republicans exactly how they feel about this monstrous bill at the ballot box.”

Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) issued a similar statement, writing, “President Trump and House Republicans continue to lie to the American people. They promised to lower costs on ‘day one’. Instead, they have championed the greatest scam in American history.”

Strickland also mentioned that Trump and House Republicans have stripped healthcare for 17 million Americans, closed one in four nursing homes, shut down over 300 rural hospitals, and ripped food from the mouths of five million SNAP recipients, including children.

“It is clear now, more than ever before, that Trump and these spineless House Republicans do not care for the American people. They only care about themselves,” she continued.

Washington Republicans react

Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) said in a statement that although the bill is “by no means perfect,” it benefits farmers, families, and small business owners across central Washington.

“H.R.1 prevents the largest tax hike in American history, increases the Child Tax Credit, and unleashes American energy production to lower costs and reduce inflation,” Newhouse wrote. “It makes the largest-ever investment in border security and makes our nation safer by strengthening our military. I was able to secure continued investment in our current and future nuclear energy fleet, which is vital to the Tri-Cities and the surrounding region.”

Newhouse said the bill protects Medicaid and SNAP for those who “truly need it by requiring part-time work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents and establishing a $50 billion fund for our rural hospitals.”

“For weeks since we first passed H.R. 1, I have heard from my constituents about the legislation’s benefits and downsides, and I have truly given serious thought to the legislation,” he added. “This was a hard, thoroughly considered vote that I believe will benefit the people of my district.”

Congressman Michael Baumgartner (WA-05) voted to advance the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

“This bill isn’t a silver bullet. But it’s a bold, serious step toward getting our economy back on track and restoring real accountability in Washington, D.C. It’s a win for every American who wants safer streets, stronger communities, and a government that finally puts them first,” Baumgartner wrote in a statement.

He noted the bill includes $50 million for rural health care, secures southern borders, and invests in energy independence.

“By finally reining in the wasteful spending Washington has ignored for too long, the bill reflects a serious commitment to responsible, results-driven government,” he added.

KTTH, KIRO Newsradio hosts weighs in

KTTH host Jason Rantz is glad the legislation passed.

“I’m grateful the bill passed, despite the concerted smear campaign that lied about what’s in the bill,” he wrote in a statement to MyNorthwest. “Those expected to lose Medicaid coverage? Illegal immigrants and able-bodied people who are choosing not to work. Medicaid was never meant to cover them. And with a $50 billion fund for rural hospitals, Senate Republicans addressed a reasonable concern about the reforms.”

However, on Tuesday, KIRO host John Curley said Trump’s tax bill would only add more debt.

“The debt payment is greater than what we’re paying for defense, and it’s going to eat up more and more and more of our available dollars,” Curley said on “The John Curley Show” on KIRO Newsradio. “As these guys are talking about tax cuts, and offering all this nonsense, we’re just adding more debt to the next generation.”

Contributing: The Associated Press; Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest