A sprawling budget bill in the US Senate could cut health insurance coverage for nearly 12 million Americans and add nearly $3.3tn (£2.4tn) in new debt, according to new estimates. The assessment from the Congressional Budget Office, a non-partisan federal agency, may complicate Republican efforts to pass President Donald Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" in the coming days. It narrowly cleared a preliminary vote Saturday. Party leaders scrambled to win over lawmakers concerned about debt and the bill's healthcare cuts, among other issues. One critic, Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, announced on Sunday he would not seek reelection after voting against the president's signature legislation. Democratic lawmakers have led criticism of the bill. The CBO numbers calculate $1tn in cuts to healthcare funding if the bill passes. The latest version of the bill was advanced in a 51-49 Senate vote on Saturday night. Two Republicans joined Democrats in opposing the move. While senators voted to open debate on the bill, it is unclear whether it has enough support to ultimately pass. Republicans have a small majority in the Senate with 53 seats. With Vice-President JD Vance holding the tie-breaker vote, the party can only afford three defectors. Democratic senators are using chamber rules to force a reading of the nearly 1,000-page bill in an attempt to delay a vote on its passage. Under Senate rules, lawmakers now have 20 hours allocated to debate the bill. It is expected that Democrats will use all of their time to further delay a vote, while Republicans try to speed up the process. Lawmakers could also propose amendments to the bill. If the revised bill passes the Senate, it still must return to the House of Representatives for final approval before landing on the president's desk. Trump has pushed for the bill to clear Congress before a self-imposed 4 July deadline. The White House said failure to pass it would be the "ultimate betrayal". Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky has said he opposes the bill because it raises the US debt limit. Tillis voiced concern that the bill would cost his state billions of dollars in healthcare funding. Tillis cited cuts the bill proposes to Medicaid, a healthcare programme that is relied on by millions of elderly, disabled and low-income Americans. These cuts have become a hotly debated issue on both sides of the aisle. Democratic Senator Mark Warner told CNN on Sunday that the bill will negatively affect millions. "This is tax cuts for the wealthiest to end up cutting healthcare, plain and simple," he said. Under the bill, more than 80% of Americans would get a tax cut next year, though wealthier taxpayers would benefit most, including as a percentage of income, according to the non-partisan Tax Policy Center. Some Republican senators have defended the bill as a needed step for the US government. Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma told NBC on Sunday that the legislation aims to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse. He argued that many Americans using Medicaid are not under the poverty line. "We don't pay people in this country to be lazy," he said. "We want to give them an opportunity. And when they're going through a hard time, we want to give them a helping hand." Some parts of the spending bill were revised in the Senate in order to appease Republican holdouts. It still contains some of its core components: tax cuts that Trump campaigned on, such as a tax deduction on Social Security benefits, and the elimination of taxes on overtime work and tips. It would also extend tax cuts passed by Republicans in 2017. The bill proposes cuts to certain programmes in order to pay for the tax deductions. On healthcare, the spending bill proposes a work requirement on most adults in order to qualify for benefits. It also reduces the amount of taxes that states can charge medical providers, the funds from which are used heavily to finance Medicaid programs. After some Republican senators voiced concern that these cuts would hurt rural hospitals in their districts, lawmakers added a provision in the latest bill that increases the size of a rural hospital relief fund from $15bn to $25bn. The bill includes restrictions on the US food stamps programme, by asking most adults with children 14 or older to show proof of work in order to qualify. It also shifts some costs from the federal government to states starting in 2028.
Nearly 12 million estimated to lose health coverage under Trump budget bill
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"CBO Estimates Trump Budget Bill Could Result in Loss of Health Coverage for 12 Million Americans"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
A recent estimate from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) indicates that a comprehensive budget bill currently under consideration in the US Senate could lead to nearly 12 million Americans losing their health insurance coverage. The bill, which has been advanced in a narrow 51-49 Senate vote, is projected to increase the national debt by approximately $3.3 trillion. This assessment poses significant challenges for Republican leaders attempting to rally support for President Donald Trump's proposed legislation, often referred to as the 'Big Beautiful Bill.' As lawmakers deliberate, concerns have arisen regarding the bill's potential cuts to healthcare funding, with an estimated $1 trillion in reductions if the legislation is enacted. Critics, including some Republican senators, have voiced apprehensions about the implications of these cuts, particularly to Medicaid, which provides essential support for millions of vulnerable individuals in the country. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who voted against the bill, highlighted that it could cost his state billions in healthcare funding, ultimately prompting him to announce he would not seek reelection.
The debate surrounding the budget bill is intensifying as senators prepare for extended discussions, with Democrats leveraging procedural rules to delay the voting process. The legislation proposes various tax cuts, primarily benefiting wealthier Americans, while also implementing stricter work requirements for Medicaid eligibility. Some provisions have been adjusted to alleviate concerns about the impact of healthcare cuts on rural hospitals. The bill's future remains uncertain, as it must secure sufficient support from within the Republican majority in the Senate, which allows for only a limited number of defections. Additionally, if the Senate passes the revised bill, it will need to return to the House of Representatives for final approval before reaching the president's desk. With a self-imposed deadline of July 4th looming, the White House has warned that failure to pass the bill would be seen as a significant political setback for the administration. As the legislative process unfolds, the implications for healthcare funding and the overall fiscal landscape of the United States are becoming increasingly critical topics of discussion among lawmakers and constituents alike.
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