Western Pa. Republicans see hope, Democrats doom in passage of Trump policy bill

Republicans in Western Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation celebrated the passage of President Trump’s domestic policy package Thursday afternoon, touting measures to extend and expand tax relief enacted in 2017, secure the nation’s southern border and expand domestic production of oil, coal and natural gas.

Democratic leaders warned the package will be devastating for Americans who rely on safety-net programs like Medicaid and SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), while driving up the national debt by more than $3 trillion.

“This landmark legislation fulfills a once-in-a-generation opportunity to usher our nation into the golden age,” U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-Peters, said after Thursday’s 218-214 vote to pass the package.

“Last November, the American people gave President Donald J. Trump and congressional Republicans a clear mandate to provide economic relief to American families, secure our southern border and reduce out-of-control government spending,” he added. “The One Big Beautiful Bill delivers on that promise by enacting the largest tax relief package for workers, seniors and small businesses; supporting the largest border security investment in our nation’s history; and unleashing American energy dominance to lower costs for American families.”

Echoing Reschenthaler, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Butler, added, “From employers to employees, from children to seniors, this legislation provides historic investments in Western Pennsylvania and the United States, both for today and for generations to come.”

Democrats didn’t see the legislation that way. They unanimously voted against it, as did two Republicans: U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania’s Bucks County and Thomas Massie of Kentucky.

“Today’s passage of Trump and Republicans’ so-called big, beautiful bill is nothing short of devastating for everyday, working-class people who will have to live with its consequences, while billionaires and corporate profiteers are handed tax breaks,” said U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, D-Swissvale.

“D.C. Republicans talk a lot about class warfare — they’re waging it against working-class Americans,” added U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Fox Chapel. “They just voted to kill construction jobs, kick people off their health care, raise the cost of energy and health insurance, cut food assistance for hungry families, and saddle all of us with trillions in debt to pay for reckless tax handouts to the rich and powerful.”

Republicans say the tax breaks will prevent a tax hike on households and grow the economy.

The Tax Policy Center, which provides nonpartisan analysis of tax and budget policy, has projected the package will result next year in a $150 tax break for the lowest-earning 20% of Americans, a $1,750 tax cut for the middle 20% and a $10,950 tax cut for the top 20%. Those projections are compared with what they would have faced if the 2017 tax cuts expired at the end of the year.

New tax breaks include allowing workers to deduct tips and overtime pay, and a $6,000 deduction for most older adults earning less than $75,000 a year.

As for the $1.2 trillion in cuts to safety-net programs Medicaid and SNAP, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has estimated the legislation could result in 11.8 million more Americans becoming uninsured by 2034 and 3 million more not qualifying for food assistance.

Republicans have argued they are trying to rightsize the programs for the population they were initially designed to serve — mainly pregnant women, the disabled and children — and root out what they describe as waste, fraud and abuse.

The package includes new 80-hour-a-month work requirements for many adults receiving Medicaid and food stamps, including older people up to age 65. Parents of children 14 and older would have to meet the program’s work requirements.

More than 71 million people rely on Medicaid, which expanded under Obama’s Affordable Care Act, and 40 million use SNAP. Most already work, according to budget office analysts.

The Associated Press contributed.