In a razor-thin 215–214–1 vote, the Republican-led House of Representatives has passed their long-anticipated budget reconciliation package, marking a significant—though politically dangerous—victory for Speaker Mike Johnson.
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The final tally was telling: Republicans Warren Davidson and Thomas Massie broke ranks to vote no, joining every single Democrat in opposition. House Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris opted to vote present, underlining the internal strain within the GOP. But in the end, the measure passed, and Johnson declared it a triumph.
According to a fresh analysis from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the Republican plan would add $3.8 trillion to the federal deficit over the next decade. That staggering figure is largely the result of major tax cuts—most notably, the extension of key provisions from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. These tax breaks are not fully offset by spending cuts, despite GOP claims of fiscal responsibility.
The CBO’s breakdown paints a stark picture of winners and losers under the GOP’s plan:
The poorest 10% of Americans would see net harm.
The wealthiest 10% would reap the greatest benefits.
The budget’s redistributionary effects—masked under the guise of tax relief—have drawn immediate fire from progressive economists and advocacy groups. It’s a budget that slashes social support while inflating giveaways to corporations and the ultra-wealthy.
We now have confirmation: Medicare is facing $535 billion in cuts due to automatic PAYGO-triggered reductions. These cuts will begin to take effect soon, barring further congressional action.
Other deep reductions include:
$698 billion from Medicaid
$267 billion from SNAP (food assistance)
$64 billion in net cuts to other federal programs, with slight increases in defense, immigration enforcement, and homeland security spending
States are projected to absorb a $78 billion increase in costs, a burden likely to fall hardest on blue states that maintain strong safety net programs.
Bottom line: The Republican Party has chosen to plant its flag on a controversial budget hill, betting that tax cuts and tough talk on spending will outweigh the political cost of cutting Medicare and raising the deficit.
But Democrats are already sharpening their message—and if today is any indication, the real fight starts now.
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