Two local lawmakers voted in support of President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
U.S. Reps. Rob Bresnahan, R-8, of Dallas Twp., and Dan Meuser, R-9, Jackson Twp., voted to usher the multitrillion-dollar tax breaks package through the House of Representatives early Thursday morning. It passed with a one-vote margin.
In a news release issued around 10 a.m., Bresnahan touted the benefits of the legislation.
“This package is a win for working families, small businesses, and anyone tired of Washington stacking the deck against the working-class people of Northeastern Pennsylvania,” Bresnahan said. “It locks in the Trump tax cuts, delivers real relief to mom-and-pop shops, and ends the Biden-era tax breaks that reward big corporations and send our tax dollars to special interests in China.”
Meuser echoed Bresnahan’s sentiments in his own news release, issued around 7:30 a.m.
“I believe we were elected to work with President Trump to improve our country — to improve our national security, strengthen our economy, bring fiscal sanity to our budget, deliver accountability, and lead the world toward peace,” Meuser’s news release said. “And frankly, to bring back common sense so people start trusting the government again. That’s what this Big Beautiful Bill is about.”
Meuser added the legislation is “designed to fortify our now-secure border, responsibly grow our domestic energy supply, and create more opportunity for all Americans.”
“It gives small businesses the kind of tax environment and certainty they need and deserve — not one where they’re slammed by massive tax increases,” Meuser said. “Passing this bill will increase production so supply better meets demand, thereby reducing inflation. And with lower inflation comes lower interest rates, which leads to greater investment and more American production.”
In Bresnahan’s news release, the congressman explained that the bill has language than bans taxing tips, overtime pay and auto loan interest.
“It also tells service industry workers, overtime workers, and retirees that we’ve got their back by not taxing tips and overtime and allowing deduction for American-made auto loan interest,” Bresnahan said.
It also makes the 2017 pro-worker tax cuts permanent; doubles the Child Tax Credit; offers added tax relief for seniors; presents $140 billion in investments in technology, construction and front-line personnel regarding the border; directs $12.5 billion toward air traffic control modernization; and includes protections for Medicaid and other social safety net programs, the congressman said.
Bresnahan said the bill’s Medicaid work requirement exempts individuals under 18 and over 64; pregnant women; parents, guardians or caretakers of a dependent or disabled individual; full-time students; disabled veterans; individuals with physical, intellectual, mental health or developmental disabilities; those who are blind; those with substance use disorders; those who live in households that receive SNAP (food stamp) benefits; those in rehabilitation programs; and inmates in public institutions.
At 8:37 a.m., Trump took to his account on Truth Social to enthusiastically emote about the legislation moving on to the Senate, and to rain praise on Republicans who supported the bill:
“ ’THE ONE, BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’ has PASSED the House of Representatives! This is arguably the most significant piece of Legislation that will ever be signed in the History of our Country! The Bill includes MASSIVE Tax CUTS, No Tax on Tips, No Tax on Overtime, Tax Deductions when you purchase an American Made Vehicle, along with strong Border Security measures, Pay Raises for our ICE and Border Patrol Agents, Funding for the Golden Dome, ‘TRUMP Savings Accounts’ for newborn babies, and much more!” read his post.
Suzan DelBene, chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, issued a statement criticizing the bill and addressing Bresnahan by name.
“Brian Fitzpatrick, Ryan Mackenzie, Rob Bresnahan, Scott Perry, and House Republicans have broken their promise to help the people they were elected to serve,” she said in a news release, claiming the legislation will hurt “working people” in favor of tax breaks for the ultra wealthy.
“By passing the largest cut to Medicaid in history, Fitzpatrick, Mackenzie, Bresnahan, Perry, and their fellow Republicans are ripping away health care from millions of Americans and levying a de facto hidden tax on working class families,” DelBene’s statement said.
She also called the cuts “cruel” and said they’d take food away from millions of children at the dinner table and school cafeteria, as well as cut Medicaid and harm seniors.