A GOP tax scam means costs go up for you

Yesterday, in the early hours of the morning, I joined other Democrats in the Rules Committee hearing to speak against the Republicans' big, bad budget bill and offer amendments to improve it.

To pay for tax cuts that mostly benefit billionaires, the bill will cut Medicaid and millions of people will lose health care. It will make devastating cuts to food assistance programs, end clean energy tax credits, allow drilling on public land, make it harder for low-income students to attend college, raise costs for working families, and more. And it will increase the deficit.

The hearing started at 1 a.m. under the cover of darkness, and continued throughout the day yesterday.

Speaker Johnson and Donald Trump twisted arms and made last minute changes to the legislation to get House Republicans in line. Some were rightly worried that taking away health care and other benefits from their constituents could lose them their seats; others, like the House Freedom Caucus, said it didn't cut enough.

Despite their chaotic disagreements and our relentless efforts to stop them, the Speaker put the bill up for debate on the House floor at the end of the day. Debate started in the evening and continued throughout the night. And very early this morning, Republicans passed this despicable partisan bill, which will now move to the Senate.

I will keep up the fight. If this bill gets through the Senate, Oregonians and Americans will see their costs continue to rise and their benefits cut. Please continue sending me your ideas and stories; we want everyone to know how these dangerous cuts will affect the people we represent.

And remember, the people who voted for this Big, Bad Bill will have to answer to the American people in the midterm elections.

Thank you for standing with me,

Suzanne