#OneBigBeautifulBill 🏛️ What Is It?
Bill name: One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), also known as One Big Beautiful Bill or the Big Beautiful Bill.
Sponsor: Rep. Jodey Arrington (R‑TX); initially passed by the House on May 22, 2025, by a narrow 215–214–1 vote .
It’s a budget reconciliation package under H. Con. Res. 14, tackling tax policy, spending, border, defense, and energy issues .
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🧾 Key Provisions
Tax Cuts: Extends and makes permanent major parts of the 2017 Tax Cuts & Jobs Act—lower brackets, higher standard deduction, expanded child tax credit, and pass-through business deduction .
Defense & Border: Adds ~$150 billion to defense and ~$70 billion for border security (wall funding, CBP, ICE) .
Entitlement Reforms: Implements stricter SNAP and Medicaid cuts, including work requirements—estimated to cause 4.8–11.8 million Americans to lose healthcare by 2034 .
Energy: Reduces clean-energy tax incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act, scaling back support for renewables .
Miscellaneous: Bans state-level AI regulation for 10 years, modifies education/student loan policies, adjusts corporate-foundation rules, and reshapes nonprofit taxation .
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⚖️ CBO, Fiscal Impact & Reactions
The CBO projects a $2.4–2.8 trillion increase in the deficit by 2034 and 10.9–11.8 million Americans would lose health coverage .
Democratic criticism: Decried as a "Reverse Robin Hood," cutting benefits, slashing healthcare/labour protections .
Republican support: Framed as pro-growth, boosting small businesses, security, workers (e.g. zero tax on tips/overtime) .
Internal GOP pushback: Moderates and Freedom Caucus members are resistant, citing soaring deficits and insufficient spending cuts .
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🏃♂️ Legislative Timeline
Stage Date / Status
Introduced (House) May 16/20, 2025
House Passage May 22, 2025 (215–214–1)
Senate Debate Started Jun 28–29; amendments underway via vote-a-rama
Senate Vote Goal Self-imposed deadline by July 4, 2025
Conference + Final Passage Awaiting reconciliation between House/Senate versions
Presidential Signature Potentially very soon after Congress completes reconciliation
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🔍 Why It Matters
✅ Represents a major conservative policy agenda: tax cuts, border and defense spending.
⚠️ Signals a heavy fiscal shift—budget deficits and social program cuts—and massive political polarization.
⏳ Timeline is tight: aiming for Senate final push before July 4 recess, but intra-party splits may complicate it.
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✅ What to Watch Next
1. Senate modifications: Will the bill retain its tax and entitlement structure or shift due to Senate rules (e.g. Byrd Rule) ?
2. Vote dynamics: Specifically look at defections from moderates or Freedom Caucus members.
3. Senate vote schedule: Could happen this week—stay tuned by July 4.
4. Conference session: When Senate and House reconcile differences.
5. Final version sign-off: If passed by both chambers, it would head to President’s desk soon after.
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Want a deeper dive into how this could affect your taxes, state programs, specific industries, or political landscape? Let me know!