Trump's Big Ugly Hateful Bill

Trump’s self titled Big Beautiful Bill is being debated now in the Senate. It’s a huge document, not beautiful at all. In fact it would be devastating if it passes. Among the major features are:

-tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations, making them perminent

-add $3.3 trillion to the national debt.

-add $45 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain migrants, on top of the current annual budget of $3.4 billion.

-add $8 billion for new ICE hires and retention.

-cut $930 billion out of Medicaid, the measure will cause 11.8 million Americans to become uninsured.

According to the NY Times:

“As of 10 a.m. Sunday, Senate clerks had read aloud 630 pages of the 940-page bill (something Democrats demanded be done) and estimates were that they would finish the task by midafternoon. That would start the clock on 20 hours of debate on the legislation, evenly split between the two parties, though Republicans were not anticipating using all of their time. At the end of the debate, members of both parties would have the opportunity to offer more changes and force floor votes on those amendments in an hourslong process known as a vote-a-rama.”

If I understand what’s going on, this bill was passed by the House and now is in front of the Senate. But Senate Republicans are changing much of it in real time to try to persuade members of the GOP who might vote the bill down, but also to adjust to those measures that were struck down by the Senate Parlimentarian as not going by the rules of the chamber. One provision I was worried about appears to have been taken out, one that would have limited the ability of federal courts from issuing preliminary injunctions.

I pray this bill does not pass. Republican Senator Tom Tillis of North Carolina said he will not sign the bill and Trump immediately threated to primary him in the next election. Tillis said he will not seek re-election for a third term.

“In Washington over the last few years, it’s become increasingly evident that leaders who are willing to embrace bipartisanship, compromise, and demonstrate independent thinking are becoming an endangered species,” Mr. Tillis said in a lengthy statement on his decision.

Trump is wielding all kinds of pressure on Senate Republicans to fall in line, I hope it doesn’t work.

I had a nice Sunday, finished planting my modest garden of basil, kale and peppers. Michael and I went to our wonderful local used bookstore, Rogers Book Barn. We turned in some books and got store credit. We didn’t use all the credit, but among our purchases were these two gems.

I saw Jon Meacham on MSNBC the other night, he was so articulate about the current political state we are. It prompted me to look up all the books he authored. I read his book on Lincoln, which is fabulous; when I saw “The Soul of America” among his many titles, I decided I needed to read it. Then this afternoon, there it was in the bookstore. Further proof I am supposed to read it.

Have a great rest of your day, thanks for being here. See you tomorrow.