WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – The House debated over the budget blueprint backing President Donald Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill,” a proposal that includes sweeping tax breaks and deep spending cuts. Republicans argue the measure is necessary to restore economic strength, while Democrats say it would hurt working families and benefit the wealthy.
“This is a lousy budget,” said Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) during a heated debate on Capitol Hill. “Republicans have succeeded in putting together a Marie Antoinette budget, helping the richest of the rich while hurting the poorest of the poor. Let them eat cake.”
The Republican-led plan would extend Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, boost funding for immigration enforcement and the military, and significantly slash federal spending.
“It’s unconscionable,” said Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.) who accused Republicans of consolidating too much power in the executive branch. “They are just giving the executive branch all of the powers that the Constitution had originally given to the Congress.”
“It’s infuriating,” added Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.) who said the proposal favors billionaires while leaving middle-class Americans behind. “This budget is about giving them more power and profit, and everyone else is going to pay for it.”
Republicans pushed back, arguing the plan is a cornerstone of the “America First” agenda and essential to restoring economic security.
“It will provide funding for border security, provide for our national defense, and restore American energy independence,” said Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.).
Foxx also defended the tax cuts, saying Americans are still recovering from high prices under the Biden administration.
“Americans are still experiencing high prices because we are still recovering from Bidenomics,” she said.
Despite support in the House, Republicans remain divided in both chambers over how deeply to cut federal spending, with trillions of dollars still at issue in the budget negotiations.
