WASHINGTON — Despite President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill being deeply unpopular with a majority of Americans, Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote Tuesday, after Republican holdout Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) caved to a combination of GOP pressure and budget carve-outs for her home state.
On Monday, Congressman Vern Buchanan (R-Longboat Key), Vice Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, led an open letter to the people of Florida, cosigned by 11 members of the Florida Republican congressional delegation, urging Congress to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and send it to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law.
“The One Big Beautiful Bill Act will lower taxes for hardworking families, seniors, and small businesses, protect Medicaid, and strengthen America’s border security. We are committed to seeing this bill become law on behalf of all Floridians,” wrote the lawmakers in the letter.
A recent Quinnipiac poll showed that only 27 percent of Americans support the passage of the bill, which includes deep cuts to social safety net programs, including Medicaid and subsidies supporting the Affordable Care Act. Millions of Americans are expected to lose health care coverage if it passes.
The bill will also add trillions to the national debt at a time when bond markets have become increasingly wary of our long-term financial outlook. Fitch Ratings downgraded the U.S. government's credit rating from AAA to AA+ in 2023, citing concerns about the country's rising debt burden and political difficulties in addressing spending and tax policies. On May 16, 2025, Moody's downgraded the U.S. credit rating from Aaa to Aa1, highlighting the growing deficit and lack of a credible fiscal consolidation plan. The downgrades reflect the potential for increased borrowing costs in the future, making deficit spending even more problematic.
Vice President Vance attempted to sell the bill Monday night by arguing that funding for ICE was more important than any of the risks involved.
"The thing that will bankrupt this country more than any other policy is flooding the country with illegal immigration and then giving those migrants generous benefits. The OBBB fixes this problem. And therefore it must pass," tweeted Vance. "Everything else—the CBO score, the proper baseline, the minutiae of the Medicaid policy—is immaterial compared to the ICE money and immigration enforcement provisions."
Critics of the bill pointed out that the $8 billion in Immigration and Customs Enforcement funding (which is largely for ICE prisons without funding for additional judges) could have been achieved through standalone legislation. They argued that adding trillions to the debt for the sake of such a comparatively small amount of funding could hardly be seen as "immaterial."
Three Republicans broke ranks to vote against the bill: Susan Collins of Maine, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, and Rand Paul of Kentucky. President Trump had given Republicans a July 4 deadline to pass the bill and said he would recruit someone to primary Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), who went against it in the House.
Elon Musk, the top fundraiser for Trump's 2024 campaign, vowed to form a third party and primary any Republican senator who voted for the bill, which he has called a "disgusting abomination" and a "debt slavery bill." Musk further stated that he would support Massie. Trump responded by suggesting he might deport Elon and have DOGE look at ways in which federal funding to his companies might be reduced.
The Senate's version now heads back to the House, where House Speaker Mike Johnson vowed it will pass quickly.
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RRICH69176
Buchanan sent out a survey (lame) as it was about the "big B bill" and the majority did NOT support the bill.
BUT Vern does not care...he is counting his tax savings in his bunker. Was it the "will of the people"?
Tuesday, July 1 Report this
rjckeuka4
Our hide and seek representative!! What a wimp!! Does he have grandkids who will ultimately have to "Pay Up?" Nice way to treat them!
Tuesday, July 1 Report this
Ritalg
What a win for the millionaires and billionaires. And a slap in the face to the rest of us. If you’re able donate to the food banks, volunteer if you can’t donate. With the federal funding gone and more people moving into poverty we have to take care of our most vulnerable. Feeding the needy and not the greedy is a priority. Buchanans poll about whether we approve of this bill was just another slap in the face. Not at all shocking. These politicians don’t work for us nor for the greater good.
Tuesday, July 1 Report this
Cat L
I'm deeply disappointed with our Representatives.
Tuesday, July 1 Report this
ruthlawler
More individuals will lose health care in Florida than any other state. It is amazing to me as to what Buchanan and other Republicans are claimimg and what this bill actually is doing. Trump repeatedly states that Medicaid will not be touched. It is incredible that so many people actually believe these lies. Ruth Lawler
Tuesday, July 1 Report this
Ladyred4Justice
“The One Big Beautiful Bill Act will lower taxes for hardworking families, seniors, and small businesses, protect Medicaid, and strengthen America’s border security. We are committed to seeing this bill become law on behalf of all Floridians,” wrote Vern's letter.
Every. Single. Word. is a lie. It lowers taxes on the rich and the 95% will have their taxes raised. It does not in any way protect seniors. It throws "granny" out of the closing nursing homes into the streets while Vern relaxes on his fifth yacht. Our borders do not need securing. It is a "fear" policy hatched up by the Far-Right to find a boogie man to scare their unquestioning listeners.
It is all a lie while they continue to void our Rights and put their boots on our necks. It is a mafia style government.
VERN LIED AND GRANDMA IS GOING TO DIE.
Tuesday, July 1 Report this
nellmcphillips
Bye Bye Vern
Wednesday, July 2 Report this
pattybeenutty
And to think they call themselves Christians. They should try to walk in their constituents' shoes.
Thursday, July 3 Report this