The United States Congress, with a Republican majority, is debating this Tuesday the adoption of the colossal budget bill proposed by President Donald Trump, which has sparked controversy, even among conservatives.
Trump is pushing for lawmakers to approve this bill as soon as possible, as it would allow him to fulfill some of his campaign promises, such as extending the tax credits from his first term (2017-2021) that expire at the end of the year.
According to an independent congressional commission, this extension and other tax measures would increase the federal deficit by more than $4.8 trillion over the next decade.
To partially offset this, Republicans, who hold majorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate, plan to cut spending by eliminating many incentives for renewable energy.
It would also affect Medicaid, the health insurance program relied on by more than 70 million low-income Americans.
Federal spending on this public program is projected to be reduced by more than $700 billion over the next decade, which threatens to leave more than 8 million Americans without health insurance by 2034, according to an analysis by a nonpartisan congressional agency.
The largest government food assistance program could also face a $300 billion cut.
Three House of Representatives committees are debating the different sections of what Trump has dubbed the “great and beautiful law.”
“The bill delivers on what Americans voted for: tax policies that prioritize working families and usher in a new golden era of prosperity and strength for the United States,” stated Jason Smith, chairman of the committee responsible for drafting the tax proposals.
The marathon debates could extend into the late hours of the night and even continue on Wednesday, before a full House of Representatives vote next week.
The package is threatened by internal struggles.
Some conservatives want deeper cuts, while moderates prefer fewer, especially regarding healthcare coverage.
Democrats defend social benefits and harshly criticize the tax reductions, which they argue are a gift to the wealthy funded by the middle class.
“Let’s be clear: there is nothing moderate, efficient, or reasonable about Donald Trump’s and Republicans’ dangerous plans to dismantle healthcare and force children to go hungry just to fund tax breaks for billionaires,” declared Aida Ross, spokesperson for the Democratic National Committee, during an event at the Capitol.
Among other measures, Trump is pushing for a four-year pause on taxes for tips, overtime pay, and interest on car loans for vehicles made in the United States.
He is also advocating for steep tax hikes on subsidies for universities like Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, as well as a drastic reduction in tax credits for clean energy.
Image: Swissinfo
