WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Patty Murray voiced her opposition to President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” which passed out of the U-S Senate with a 51-49 vote.
Murray criticized the bill’s financial implications, calling it potentially “the most expensive legislation this body ever passes.” She questioned the bill’s math, referring to it as “magic math,” and highlighted inconsistencies in her colleagues’ fiscal responsibility stance.
“How many times have my colleagues cried about the debt?” Murray asked. “Now that it’s tax cuts for billionaires and corporations, suddenly the budget doesn’t matter anymore,” she said.
Idaho Republican Senator Mike Crapo defended the bill, stating it aims to reduce the deficit. “Our bill drives the deficit down, not up,” Crapo said, attributing debt issues to previous spending and emphasizing the refusal to raise taxes by $4.3 trillion.
Crapo urged Americans to see through the “politics of fear,” recalling President Obama’s stance on tax policy. “Only in Washington, D.C., is the refusal to raise your taxes, an increase in the deficit,” Crapo concluded.
Contentious debate unfolded on the Senate floor last night as a Republican senator urged critics to “Read the bill” before the near-midnight vote.
The Senate Democrats took this advice and led a prolonged reading of the 940-page document, which concluded 16 hours later on Sunday afternoon.
Debate on the bill launched shortly after, with at least 10 hours of speeches expected. The slow-walking tactic highlighted the challenges Republicans face in advancing the bill.
A new analysis from the Congressional Budget Office claimed the bill could increase the deficit by nearly $3.3 trillion from 2025 to 2034 and leave 11.8 million more Americans uninsured by 2034. This has fueled Democratic opposition and highlighted the precarious position of Republican leaders, who can afford only a few dissenters in both chambers.
Elon Musk added to the pressure, labeling the bill as “utterly insane and destructive.”
The bill aims to make permanent many of Trump’s tax breaks from his first term and introduce new ones, such as no taxes on tips. It also allocates $350 billion to national security, including Trump’s deportation agenda. However, proposed cuts to programs such as Medicaid and food stamps have caused dissent within GOP ranks.
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., criticized environmental rollbacks, calling them a “death sentence” for wind and solar industries.
The bill now faces further debate and potential amendments before it can proceed to the House for final approval.
