(The Center Square) — The One Big Beautiful Bill Act hurts the working class and those who need help, according to Democrats representing Arizona in Congress. But Republican lawmakers say the measure, signed into law by President Donald Trump, is a win for Arizonans.
Opponents such as U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Arizona, have been critical of the bill for giving what Kelley calls “another tax break to the ultra-wealthy.”
In a press release, Kelly said he would rather support working families.
“We offered amendment after amendment to make this bill better, to make rich people pay their fair share while giving tax cuts to the middle class, to keep health care coverage and food assistance for working people, to protect clean energy jobs,” said Kelly. “Republicans rejected every single one of them.”
U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, said in a press release that he was “up all night fighting” for the Americans that Gallego said “will be worse off” because of the bill.
“Donald Trump and Republicans promised to lower costs for everyday Americans,” said Gallego. “But all this bill does is rip away healthcare, gut food assistance, raise energy prices, increase our national debt, and give massive tax cuts to billionaires.”
Also known as H.R. 1, the bill originated in the U.S. House of Representatives, where Rep. Yassamin Ansari, D-Arizona, and others warned about changes or “cuts” to entitlement programs.
In an outline posted on her website, Ansari said the Big Beautiful Bill, among other things, “kicks 17 million people off their healthcare and makes premiums, deductibles, and copays soar for millions more.” Ansari also voiced concerns about “the largest cut to nutritional assistance ever,” adding the Big Beautiful Bill “cuts SNAP by 20 percent while forcing states to cover more of SNAP’s cost.” SNAP is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, aka food stamps.
Republicans have long argued that the Big Beautiful Bill does not cut entitlements, rather reforms programs to go after waste, fraud and abuse to ensure that people who need things such as health care and SNAP continue to have those programs.
In a July 3 press release, just after the House voted to approve the Senate’s changes to the Big Beautiful Bill, U.S. Rep. Abe Hamadeh, R-Arizona, said there are “no cuts to Medicaid,” adding the bill “ends Medicaid and SNAP fraud” to ensure these programs only serve eligible Americans.
“Americans have been bombarded with fake news accounts that stirred fear and anger and stoked resentment as part of the Democrats’ war on Capitalism,” said Hamadeh.
Reps. Eli Crane and Andy Biggs, both R-Arizona, noted they were proud to approve the measure. Crane said in a post on X that he “stood with President Trump to deliver meaningful wins for rural Arizona,” and there is still work to be done. Crane said he is committed to keep fighting for that work.
Biggs said in a press release that Arizonans and Americans overall will benefit from the Big Beautiful Bill. Biggs pointed to reduced taxes on tipped wages, overtime, Social Security and car loans.
“These tax cuts lower the economic burden on working-class American families, empower small businesses, and bring back jobs to our shores,” said Biggs. “The Big Beautiful Bill also secures necessary funding for President Trump and his Cabinet to keep up their work in securing our border.”
The House narrowly approved the Big Beautiful Bill in late May. It then went to the Senate, where changes were made before Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote July 1. The House approved the Senate version July 3, giving the bill to Trump in time for his July 4 deadline.
Like Republicans in the House and Senate, Trump called the Big Beautiful Bill a “once in a generation piece of legislation” that delivered on his campaign promises and puts America first.
