Action 114 – Big Ugly Budget Bill
Background: Almost everyone now understands that perpetuating the Trump tax cuts for the obscenely wealthy (1) means that either the debt ceiling gets raised, or spending has to be cut, or some combination of both in order to balance the budget (so that income = outgo). Pretty much nobody likes the idea of raising the debt ceiling, although most agree it can be a necessary measure sometimes (2). For some unmentioned reason, cuts to defense spending seem to be off the table, even though the USA spends more on defense than the next 9 largest spending countries combined. (3). We don’t have to accept this as diktat, but if we do (as Congress seems all too willing to do) it leaves all other federal programs and services on the table for potential cutting. Musk managed to convince the Trump administration that his DOGE group would rummage through all Federal programs, targeting “waste, fraud and abuse”, and save billions. Nobody is buying that any more, as Musk runs off with our personal data to be squirreled away in a massive, consolidated treasure trove to be used for undisclosed (likely nefarious) purposes.
The largest share of the non-military spending belongs to Social Security, followed by Medicare and Medicaid (which in Maine is called MaineCare). The Trump administration flatly denies that it will privatize Social Security, but is weakening it (4). Regarding Medicare and Medicaid, the administration’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” clearly intends cuts (5). See (6) for an easily read digest of a parade of horribles in the proposed budget. For more specific details, see (7) – (warning: this is really “in the weeds” – watch for language designed to deceive.) For our January objection to the “big beautiful bill”, see Action # 16 at https://isledems.org/actionitems/ There is some useful rebellion among Republicans in the House, which we can support. (8)
UPDATE: We learned today that the far-right Republicans have managed to torpedo the bill at least for now. But what they want is WORSE CRUELTY, i.e BIGGER CUTS. This is an outrage. Another vote is scheduled for 10 PM Sunday. Jessica Craven writes: “Our job, fortunately, remains the same. We’ll keep calling relentlessly to make Republicans understand that if they vote for this bill they’ll be out of a job in a year and a half—or whenever they’re next up for re-election. We know that lives are at stake. We know that Republicans should be more afraid of us than they are of Trump or Musk. We know our ever-expanding power. It’s time to let them know it, too.”(9)
Action: Contact our legislators. Ask them to vote NO on the Big Ugly Budget Bill when and if they have a chance to vote on it. It’s only “beautiful” in the eyes of its parents, i.e. the grifters, sycophants and fanatics who surround Trump. We are DONE with being hoodwinked by them. Tax cuts for the rich while depriving the poor of essential, life-preserving programs like MaineCare, SNAP, LIHEAP, Veteran’s benefits, health research, education etc. WILL NOT FLY in Maine. They are supposed to advocate for US, not the plutocrats, and we are watching.
Contact:
Senator Susan Collins: Email: www.collins.senate.gov/contact/email-senator-collins/form
Phone: (202) 224-2523 (DC office), (207) 945-0417 (Bangor office)
Senator Angus King: Email www.king.senate.gov/contact
Phone: (202) 224-5344 (DC office), (207) 945-8000 (Bangor office)
Representative Jared Golden: Email: golden.house.gov/contact
Phone: (202) 224-3121 (DC office), (207) 249-7400 (Bangor office)
Representative Chellie Pingree: Email: https://pingree.house.gov/contact/
Phone: (202) 225-6116 (DC office), (207) 774-5019 (Portland office)
Urgency: Per Yahoo News, the bill is before the House Budget Committee. (Neither Golden nor Pingree are on that committee. A few Republicans might vote against it. Good!) If approved it goes to the House Rules Committee which sets terms for debate in the House. Speaker Johnson wants the bill passed by May 31, the day of our “Calling Out Collins” event! (see Action 112). Let’s do what we can to make sure it doesn’t pass the House. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Golden and Pingree and a whole bunch of Democrats showed up for the vote at 10 PM Sunday and raised a ruckus?
Extra Credit:
(2) See https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-americans-think-about-the-debt-ceiling-fight/ and https://carey.jhu.edu/articles/newest-debate-over-debt-ceiling-more-hot-air
(5) https://apnews.com/article/medicaid-cuts-trump-tax-cuts-bill-1e2b12a91a3d12ceb0420ce7053de58e and https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/whats-in-the-first-draft-of-the-gops-big-beautiful-bill-cutting-taxes-and-spending and https://www.cbsnews.com/news/house-gop-pushes-trumps-big-beautiful-bill-forward-after-all-nighter/
(6) https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-big-beautiful-bill-medicaid-taxes-maga-accounts-2025-5
(8) https://www.yahoo.com/news/gop-rebel-mutiny-threatens-derail-213550989.html
Just for fun: famous fictional monsters that could be the moniker for this bill, replacing “beautiful”: https://comicvine.gamespot.com/profile/cainpanell/lists/giant-monsters-list/36607/