Local leaders react as House passes Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill,’ sending it to president’s desk
Jul 3, 2025, 12:06 PM | Updated: 1:13 pm

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., left, speaks in the House chamber as House Democrats stand to applaud him, prior to the final vote for President Donald Trump's signature bill of tax breaks and spending cuts, at the Capitol, Thursday, July 3, 2025, in Washington. (Photo: Rod Lamkey, Jr., AP)
(Photo: Rod Lamkey, Jr., AP)
聽President Donald Trump鈥檚聽聽to final passage Thursday, overcoming multiple setbacks to approve his signature second-term policy package before a self-imposed Fourth of July deadline.
The tight roll call, 218-214, came at a potentially high political cost, with two Republicans joining all Democrats opposed. GOP leaders worked overnight and the president himself leaned on a handful of skeptics to drop their opposition and send the bill to his desk to become law.
The outcome delivers a milestone for the president and his party, a longshot effort to compile a lengthy list of GOP priorities into what they called his 鈥渙ne big, beautiful bill,鈥 an . With Democrats unified in opposition, the bill will become a defining measure of Trump鈥檚 return to the White House, with the sweep of Republican control of Congress.
What’s in Trump’s tax bill?
At its core, the package鈥檚 priority is $4.5 trillion in tax breaks enacted in 2017 during Trump鈥檚 first term that would expire if Congress failed to act, along with new ones. This includes allowing workers to deduct tips and overtime pay, and a $6,000聽earning less than $75,000 a year.
There鈥檚 also a hefty investment, some $350 billion, in national security and聽and to help develop the聽defensive system over the U.S.
To help offset the lost tax revenue, the package includes $1.2 trillion in cutbacks to聽and food stamps, largely by imposing new work requirements, including for some parents and older people, and a major聽.
The American Conservation Coalition Action (ACC Action) stated it applauded certain components of the bill, despite some challenges.
“While a large reconciliation bill is not the best policymaking vehicle, the final legislation preserves key policy levers needed to unleash clean, firm energy here in the United States,” ACC Action Managing Director Andrew Mill wrote in a statement. “We are pleased that the LPO will continue to finance much-needed energy innovation projects and appreciate Congress鈥檚 work to acknowledge the critical role of nuclear, hydropower, and geothermal resources.”
罢丑别听聽estimates the package will add聽over the decade and 11.8 million more people will go without health coverage.
Washington Health Benefit Exchange CEO Ingrid Ulrey issued a statement, saying the bill will have “devastating effects on the health and well-being of Washingtonians.”
“While we are very disappointed as this bill will result in fewer people covered and higher prices, we are also watching carefully the next decision point before Congress,” Ulrey added. “They must decide whether or not to extend the enhanced premium tax credits, which have been crucial to stabilizing customer premiums.”
Washington Democrats respond
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson also released a statement, writing, “This bill takes food from our most vulnerable Washingtonians to give tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy. This bill is only beautiful to billionaires.”
U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, called the legislation “Republicans’ big, ugly betrayal bill.”
Murray wrote in a statement that the bill “is the largest transfer of wealth from people who have the least, to the people who have the most, in our nation鈥檚 history. This bill is un-American and flat-out wrong.”
She noted that Trump’s tax bill will cut 17 million Americans’ health insurance and increase grocery costs for 40 million Americans.
Murray also touched on the defunding of Planned Parenthood, writing, “This bill is a step toward Republicans鈥 dystopian plan for a backdoor nationwide abortion ban where women can鈥檛 get the health care they need, no matter what state they live in.”
She said the bill will negatively impact famers in eastern and central Washington who rely on tax credits to power their farms.
“Republicans chose to ignore every warning about how terrible this bill really is and force it through, over the objections of Democrats and even members of their own party, for no other reason than because Trump said so,” Murray added. “In the end, the American people will have their voices heard and will show Republicans exactly how they feel about this monstrous bill at the ballot box.”
Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) issued a similar statement, writing, “President Trump and House Republicans continue to lie to the American people. They promised to lower costs on 鈥榙ay one鈥. Instead, they have championed the greatest scam in American history.”
Strickland also mentioned that Trump and House Republicans have stripped healthcare for 17 million Americans, closed one in four nursing homes, shut down over 300 rural hospitals, and ripped food from the mouths of five million SNAP recipients, including children.
“It is clear now, more than ever before, that Trump and these spineless House Republicans do not care for the American people. They only care about themselves,” she continued.
Washington Republicans react
Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) said in a statement that although the bill is “by no means perfect,” it benefits farmers, families, and small business owners across central Washington.
“H.R.1 prevents the largest tax hike in American history, increases the Child Tax Credit, and unleashes American energy production to lower costs and reduce inflation,” Newhouse wrote. “It makes the largest-ever investment in border security and makes our nation safer by strengthening our military. I was able to secure continued investment in our current and future nuclear energy fleet, which is vital to the Tri-Cities and the surrounding region.”
Newhouse said the bill protects Medicaid and SNAP for those who “truly need it by requiring part-time work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents and establishing a $50 billion fund for our rural hospitals.”
“For weeks since we first passed H.R. 1, I have heard from my constituents about the legislation鈥檚 benefits and downsides, and I have truly given serious thought to the legislation,” he added. “This was a hard, thoroughly considered vote that I believe will benefit the people of my district.”
Congressman Michael Baumgartner (WA-05) voted to advance the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
“This bill isn鈥檛 a silver bullet. But it鈥檚 a bold, serious step toward getting our economy back on track and restoring real accountability in Washington, D.C. It鈥檚 a win for every American who wants safer streets, stronger communities, and a government that finally puts them first,” Baumgartner wrote in a statement.
He noted the bill includes $50 million for rural health care, secures southern borders, and invests in energy independence.
“By finally reining in the wasteful spending Washington has ignored for too long, the bill reflects a serious commitment to responsible, results-driven government,” he added.
KTTH, 成人X站 Newsradio hosts weighs in
KTTH host Jason Rantz is glad the legislation passed.
“I鈥檓 grateful the bill passed, despite the concerted smear campaign that lied about what鈥檚 in the bill,” he wrote in a statement to MyNorthwest. “Those expected to lose Medicaid coverage? Illegal immigrants and able-bodied people who are choosing not to work. Medicaid was never meant to cover them. And with a $50 billion fund for rural hospitals, Senate Republicans addressed a reasonable concern about the reforms.”
However, on Tuesday, 成人X站 host John Curley said Trump’s tax bill would only add more debt.
“The debt payment is greater than what we’re paying for defense, and it’s going to eat up more and more and more of our available dollars,” Curley said on “The John Curley Show” on 成人X站 Newsradio. “As these guys are talking about tax cuts, and offering all this nonsense, we’re just adding more debt to the next generation.”
Contributing: The Associated Press; Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest