Michigan Republicans cheer, Democrats jeer passage of Trump's 'big, beautiful' bill
With a 218-214 vote in the U.S. House on the afternoon of July 3rd, President Donald Trump got his wish: passage of his "big, beautiful bill" cutting taxes, reducing spending and raising the nation's debt limit considerably.
Michigan's seven Republican U.S. House members voted for it. The state's six Democratic House members voted against, decrying new restrictions on Medicare and food stamps, as well as the continuation of tax cuts they argue favor the wealthy and corporations more than working- and lower-income Americans.
Here are some of the reactions to the passage of the legislation that now heads to Trump's desk to be signed into law:
Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer: “Republicans in the U.S. House passed a reckless bill that threatens the health, security and economic stability of millions — including hundreds of thousands of Michiganders who stand to lose their Medicaid coverage, and countless working families who rely on SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamps) to put food on the table. Nearly 15,000 Michiganders sent stories to me about how these cuts will devastate their lives... Today’s vote shows those Republicans ignored their constituents, leaving them with higher costs and without the health care they’ll need."
U.S. Rep. (and gubernatorial candidate) John James, R-Shelby Township: "Today I voted yes... because it delivers on the promises President Trump and Republicans made in 2024... We’re cutting taxes on tips and overtime, protecting Social Security, rebuilding American manufacturing and putting an end to handouts for illegal immigrants and able-bodied adults who won’t work. This bill secures our border, strengthens our economy and keeps our word to the American people."
U.S. Rep. (and U.S. Senate candidate) Haley Stevens, D-Birmingham: "I voted no on Donald Trump’s billionaire tax handout for the people of Michigan who will have their healthcare taken away, food assistance stripped away, investments in manufacturing eliminated, and will be put further at risk due to rural hospitals shuttering... I will continue to stand up to this Administration every single day, until we finally see a deal that works for Michigan and the people I care so deeply about."
U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton: "Last November, 77 million people demanded change. Today, House Republicans delivered on that mandate to reverse four years of failed Democrat policies and extend the successful Trump tax cuts, which put more money back into the pockets of working families and empowered small businesses."
U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor: “Why would anyone vote for this big bad bill? It is one of the most consequential, devastating, dangerous bills Congress has passed in recent history. It is going to rip health care away from 17 million people, make the biggest cuts to food assistance ever and ensure the poorest Americans get poorer while the richest get even richer."
U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Bruce Township: “This historic legislation delivers real results for Michigan families and businesses. This bill will create more opportunities for our local businesses to thrive and help hardworking Michiganders keep more of what they earn. We just avoided the largest tax increase in American history, reduced burdensome regulations, protected our most vulnerable citizens by sustaining Medicaid, and unleashed American energy. We are leaving behind Joe Biden’s disastrous economic policies. Under President Trump’s leadership, the golden age of America has just started.”
U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit: “This bill is an act of violence against our communities. At a time of extreme income and wealth inequality, while 60% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, this budget is absolutely devastating for the working families we represent. Trump’s big budget betrayal will kick 17 million Americans off their health care, including over 450,000 people in Michigan, by making the largest cut to Medicaid in history. Republicans should be ashamed of themselves for saying the people losing their health care will just ‘get over it’ because ‘we’re all going to die.’"
U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Holland Township: “This bill makes significant progress to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse from both SNAP and Medicaid by implementing work requirements for able-bodied individuals without dependents. These commonsense reforms will preserve these important safety net programs for those who need it most — namely, low-income mothers, children, the elderly, and disabled Americans... I look forward to President Trump signing this legislation, delivering a massive win for hardworking Americans, and putting America back on track for an age of prosperity.”
U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, D-Bay City: “I voted no on Republicans’ extreme package because life is already too expensive for Michigan families, and this bill is going to make it worse. Working families will lose their health care, children will go hungry, and our seniors will lose access to long-term care, all to pay for massive tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy. Everybody will see daily costs go up like health care, utility bills, and food to help (billionaires) Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos make more money.”
U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Charlotte: "I joined my colleagues in passing the one, big, beautiful bill to prevent the largest tax hike in American history, lower energy costs and permanently secure our border – all while protecting the integrity of Medicaid and SNAP for those who need them most. This legislation will create thousands of good-paying jobs to boost our economy, ensure the middle class keeps more money in their pockets, and invest in a brighter future for America. It also delivers on promises made to hardworking families and businesses in Michigan: no tax on tips or overtime, permanent tax relief, an expanded Child Tax Credit, and more."
U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Grand Rapids: “I just voted no on (the bill) for the good people of west Michigan — for our health care, for our children, for our farmers, for our seniors, for our veterans and for each and every one of you. You need no further evidence of how disastrous this bill will be than the narrow margin by which it passed and the hours upon hours that it took House Republicans to be convinced that this bill was good for their constituents."
U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Caledonia: "Michiganders can now be confident their taxes will not be raised at the end of the year, and that their tax dollars will not be used to pad the bottom line of Chinese companies (with the inclusion of Moolenaar's provision prohibiting companies affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party from receiving energy production tax credits) The one, big, beautiful bill is a win for Michigan families."
U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Detroit: "This big, ugly bill will cause 17 million people to lose access to healthcare, and take food off the table for 2 million more, all to give billionaires yet another tax break. My district has the fourth-highest SNAP participation rate in the country at 29%, and 47% of our district relies on Medicaid to get the healthcare they need to survive. My decision to vote no on this bill was the easiest I’ve had as an elected official, as these cuts will deeply harm every single person in my congressional district."
Contact Todd Spangler: tspangler@freepress.com. Follow him on X @tsspangler.