It was Donald Trump’s grand promise – a “big beautiful bill” meant to overhaul America’s economy, reward his voters, and leave opponents speechless. But as soon as the House approved their draft, the Republican-controlled Senate stepped in – and swiftly grabbed the red pen. Led by Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo, the Republican elite is dissecting the monstrous package point by point. The President remains silent for now. But the signs point to a collision.
The most significant changes affect Trump’s showcase policies: tax breaks for tips and overtime are set to be sharply capped. Where the President once championed unlimited deductibility, Crapo now imposes hard limits – twenty-five thousand dollars for tips, twelve thousand five hundred dollars for overtime. For many workers who had pinned their hopes on such promises – in hospitality, transportation, or lower-wage management – this is a sobering retreat. Even harder hit are those who have little voice: Medicaid faces deeper cuts than previously known. According to KFF and CBO estimates, up to eight point seven million people could lose their health coverage – many among them low-income earners, single parents, older adults, and individuals with disabilities.
The consequences are existential. Rural hospitals warn of closures as state funding dries up. Last year, Holton Community Hospital in Kansas reported nearly one million dollars in Medicaid revenue – money that may soon disappear. Studies indicate that such a wave of cuts would not only jeopardize medical care in remote areas, but also raise mortality rates – with projections of up to sixteen thousand preventable deaths per year. And while savings are harsh in this area, other sectors remain conspicuously untouched – such as the tax exemptions for large university endowments or SALT deductions, which largely benefit households earning over one hundred thousand dollars annually.
The political heat is rising. Democrats call it an economic declaration of war against the poor. Yet there is also discontent within the Republican ranks. Senator Josh Hawley is loudly criticizing the cuts to rural hospitals, while more moderate voices warn of alienating the voter base. Many Republicans seem more devoted to their reelection than to the President. And that means: Trump’s political legacy will not be celebrated – it will be recalculated.
In the end stands a bill that might have the strength to move forward – but carries a heavy political price tag. If the Senate fails to pass the package before July fourth, an embarrassing delay looms. And even if they reach agreement, the question remains: Who is this law for? For the server who lives on tips? For the nurse working double shifts? Or for those who enjoy generous charity deductions and low university taxes? The "big “beautiful bill” has lost its shine. Now it is being calculated – and cut.
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