In a nail-biter on Capitol Hill, House Republicans on Thursday morning passed a sweeping multi-trillion dollar budget reconciliation bill by the slimmest of margins — 215-214 — delivering a massive legislative win for President Donald Trump’s domestic policy agenda.
The outcome hinged on a single vote, and had Alaska’s Rep. Mary Peltola still been in office, the result would likely have gone the other way. Not a single Democrat voted for the Big Beautiful Bill, the budget.
Begich announced on X: “I just voted YES on H.R. 1: The Big Beautiful Bill. Last year, voters gave Republicans a clear mandate: cut reckless spending, secure the border, and grow our economy – and we delivered. This bill is a game-changer for working families and small businesses in Alaska and across America:
“$1.5 TRILLION in deficit reduction – the largest in nearly 30 years – while protecting the integrity of critical programs like Medicaid and SNAP
“Trump tax cuts made permanent – keeping life more affordable for hardworking Alaskans
“No tax on tips, overtime, or car loan interest”No tax on tips, overtime, or car loan interest
“$140+ BILLION for the strongest border security in U.S. history
“American energy unleashed – driving down costs and powering prosperity
“Medicaid & SNAP integrity restored – ensuring benefits go to those who truly need them
“$144 BILLION invested to strengthen our military and defend our nation I’ve always said: American prosperity starts in Alaska – and The Big Beautiful Bill puts America First and Alaska back on the map.”
The bill offers the largest tax cut in history — $13,300 more for American families and wage increases up to $11,000 for workers with a double-digit percent decrease to their tax bills, and no taxes on tips or overtime. Also, there’s a tax cut on Social Security benefits, an expanded child tax credit, and a tax deduction on American-made vehicles. Americans making between $30,000 and $80,000 per year will see their taxes cut by 15% next year.
The House pulled an all-nighter, with the final vote at about 2:30 am. Congressional members then drifted out of the Capitol and headed to their apartments for a few hours of sleep.
The bill, stitched together from 11 separate committee proposals, including several energy and resource items from Congressman Nick Begich of Alaska. It funds Trump-aligned priorities on taxes, energy, defense, and border enforcement, while enacting substantial cuts to social welfare programs. The cost of the bill over the next decade is projected to exceed $3.3 trillion, with a $4 trillion debt ceiling increase included to accommodate the spending.
The bill advances stronger border security, funding one million illegal immigrant deportations per year, thousands of miles of new border wall and barriers, 18,000+ new immigration officials.
The legislation, which now goes to the Senate, includes a permanent extension of key provisions from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, such as the $15,000 standard deduction, the 20% Qualified Business Income deduction for pass-through entities, and the $2,000 child tax credit, with the stipulation that both parents must possess Social Security numbers to claim it.
Temporary tax measures through 2028 include:
- Eliminating federal income taxes on tips and overtime pay
- Making the Adoption Tax Credit partially refundable
- Increasing the standard deduction for seniors by $4,000
- Eliminating interest on loans for American-manufactured vehicles
To partially offset the bill’s cost, Republicans targeted several Democrat-backed initiatives for repeal or reform. Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) faced major restructuring, with projected savings of $1.5 trillion. The legislation repeals or phases out numerous renewable energy subsidies from the Inflation Reduction Act and cancels President Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan.
Changes to SNAP include:
- Requiring states to pay 5% of SNAP benefits by FY 2028, with adjustments tied to payment error rates (Alaska has the highest in the nation in terms of error rates.)
- Ending eligibility for noncitizens other than legal permanent residents
- Restricting states’ ability to waive work requirements for able-bodied adults
Medicaid reforms restore pre-pandemic eligibility rules and impose work requirements on most able-bodied adults without dependents. The bill also cracks down on state-level financing maneuvers used to boost Medicaid reimbursements.
Democrats were unanimous in opposition.
Some Republican hardliners demanded deeper Medicaid cuts and faster repeal of green energy tax breaks. In the end, two Republicans — Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Warren Davidson of Ohio — voted against the bill, while Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland voted “present.”
Had one more vote flipped, the bill would have failed. The absence of Democrat Mary Peltola, Alaska’s former representative, was pivotal. With a single-vote margin, her continued presence in Congress could have killed the measure outright.
Alaska WINS again because of our fine congressman NICK III Liberty Ed
Peltola is a has been and now it is time to boot daddy’s princess.
She is an embarrassment to Alaskans who supported the President hands down.
More like Alaska bankrupts America. I guess the debt is no longer a concern.
Exactly.
Well it wasn’t a concern the last 4 years for you, why do you care now?
Never mind don’t answer that, we know……
Just for giggles, from information I could find, the total federal budget, in 2018 was about $4 trillion. In the years 2022-2024 it ranged between $6.1- $6.7 trillion, just saying.
It’s no longer a concern if your chosen side does it. It’s been like that for a long time.
Oh and just for more giggles the national debt in 2016 was about $20 trillion and in 2020 about $23 trillion, yet at the end of 2024 we were looking at $35 trillion. So spare me your fake crocodile tears!
So your cool with it if your chosen side does it, got it. We as Americans shouldn’t except either side bankrupting us.
Rino, I completely agree with you.
Politicians on both sides are spending us into oblivion and it has to stop. I believe the DOGE cuts are a start, but much more work has to be done. For one we need to eliminate the continuing resolutions practice, as it maintains and only adds to expenditures without meaningful reform or cutting. It is really what got us into this mess.
My issue here is with cman and his hypocrisy. He implies that he cares deeply about the national debt. However as you so rightly pointed out, when his favorite team spent like drunken sailors (my apologies to the sailors) he had nothing to say. I simply pointed out that the “sharpest and most transparent administration” of the last 4 years spent us considerably more into debt that the previous one. Neither should be acceptable.
I am hoping that with these tax cuts (most of which were in effect already), a slimmer and more efficient federal workforce and the elimination of waste and fraud, we can get our economy back on track, increase tax revenue (via increased commerce, better trade deals) and keep the debt in check to either stabilize or go down.
Nice deflection. This bill is crap and you know it. I thought the GOP touted itself as the party of fiscal responsibility?
Oh yeah, your numbers, like this bill, are total crap as well. Three-quarters of the debt we have was accumulated by Republican presidents, starting with Reagan.
So if “my numbers” are inaccurate then why did you not list the correct numbers and your source? Please elaborate, thank you.
Is it possible I made a mistake, sure. These are the numbers I found doing a search on the web.
That being said I am very certain the budget numbers/total spending per fiscal year are correct, as they are reported on several sites monitoring the budget and debt as well the numbers from the government publishing office.
Have more accurate ones post them. I am eager to learn. Just being belligerent is not helping AND you did not address your hypocrisy of only caring for the debt when republicans are in office.
bankrupting America with our cradle to grave welfare?
No, Randy. With our corporate welfare. I’ve had a job since I was 11 years old.
NA, please elaborate on “corporate welfare” what exactly does that mean?
I have the sneaking suspicion that between medicaid, snaps, unemployment, housing aid, funds to fight homelessness etc. and the vast bureaucracy to administer these programs, the US taxpayer spends considerably more on those than whatever exactly “corporate welfare” is.
I wish Mary Peltola was still Alaska’s Representative.
Salty tears from the government hand out crowd.
What a stupid comment!
Oh Constance! I am sympathetic, suffering from a deranged mind isnt good, not at all. Be still, drink some tea and listen to Bobby Dylan ‘s ” the times they are a chainging”.
I wish I was rich.
Often in life we don’t get what we want.
She unfortunately may have been the state Representative, but she NEVER represented Alaska, even when she did bother to show up to work.
Funny!
Begich and the many liberal Republicans are a disaster. This bill increases our deficit spending by more than $3.8 trillion dollars according toe the CBO.
Moody’s Rating and the other credit rating agencies have just downgraded the US debt rating because of this reckless overspending. This means higher borrowing costs, and higher debt service costs. Congress has grown the US debt so dramatically that we now pay (our taxes) over one trillion dollars per year JUST in interest payments on the massive US debt of $37 trillion dollars.
This problem does NOT get easier to solve the deeper we go into debt.
Begich and Trump are not fiscal conservatives. Trump, the former Democrat, grew the debt by almost $8 trillion in his first four years.
Without competent leadership we can expect the value of the US dollar to continue to decline.
You have the TDS bad & that makes me smile! Go on now git, dimlibby snow-flake!
B4 Flight, you are in a cult, the MAGA cult. You need to be deprogrammed.
Sigh!
N, spoken like the “tolerant and inclusive” you clearly picture yourself to be…B4 has a point, thank you for making it.
Hum, your savior BHO took the debt from 10T to 20T did ya complain back then….probably not! SU&GA
Savior, BO? Never. Those of us who know finance have been paying attention to the debt problem since the 1970s. It used to be that it was Democrats who always demanded unsustainable spending. Now its the Republicans, too.
Thank you for delivering, Nick! While we are celebrating the win, we also need a publication of republicans who voted against it so we can continue to be educated going into the next election and so we may offer those who failed to vote a call or note reminding them who and how they were voted into that position to begin with.
A bitter sweet victory. We are constantly assured that this one last time that Congress passes a Reconciliation Bill will be the absolute last time, swear to God, but Congress continues to kick the can down the road. Representative Thomas Massie is the only real fiscal conservative in Congress and President Trump’s attacks against him speaks volumes about Trump’s presidency!
Keep on rockin’ it Nick!! You’re head & shoulders above the previous… whatever!!
The tax cuts are great, but there needs to be MUCH more reductions in spending. Actual reductions. Not just reductions in the increase. And Entitlement spending has to be tackled if we are to save our country from bankruptcy. That means serious reductions in Medicare and Social Security.
You realize that means a death sentence for alot of people. I wouldn’t be so shallow. Thing is im actually all for cuts but I too have family that need the medical assistance. Oh and let’s not forget the hundreds of hospitals and clinics across the state that depend on that program to run especially in rural communities. You can’t possibly be that dumb. Funny thing is im not either side either I just know what I’m talking about when it comes to true balance. Nobodys even addressing the money that goes overseas yet. What happened to taking care of our own and what does the rich even need the assistance for. We know trickle down economics don’t work the way it should. As a conservative myself I don’t feel like they really addressing some of the worst problems yet. Let’s hope Trump is only getting started. Leave our people alone and especially leave the kids alone. Get to the corruption as promised starting from the top and everywhere overseas. Is anybody thinking rationally about this at all or do you just eat up propaganda like it’s candy….
Also by the way thanks Nick begich. It’s a good start. I’m waiting to see some real progress though. We should keep emotions out of politics. Don’t let Trump be a sourpus about the past and get busy with the real issues that’s been addressed on many occasions during the Biden administration. Sick of seeing other countries being treated better than we are. We the people are not the problem. It’s the constant funneling of resources outside the countries first and for most. I’m waiting……
You are a blessing to the USA and Alaska.
We love, Nicholas.
What a difference having representation that isn’t part of the problem and makes positive change!
Future generations will be paying for tax breaks given to $Billionaires. This is nothing to be celebrated
I’m not sure how you think those making $30-$80,000 a year are billionaires.
you must have been so unpopular at any function, you need help & you got the TDS bad!
Then you must be a billionaire, Frank, as the tax breaks are for all individuals on their personal income taxes and the estate tax cuts apply to all as well. I also don’t know any billionaires, who rely on or get tips to supplement their income. Standard tax deductions apply to all filers not just those with higher incomes.
I get that you hate it when Americans get to keep more of their hard earned cash to do with as they please, instead of being forced to give it to bureaucrats to spend as they please.
If the federal government never added to the existing debt and paid it down $100 billion a year, it would take 370 years to pay off the principal, over 900 years including the compound interest.
This bill allows another $8 trillion in new debt over 3 years at 5.5% interest, and the reconsolidation of another $9 trillion in existing debt at a much higher rate
Would have been a couple more “yes” votes. Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) FELL ASLEEP during the vote, but would have voted yes. Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ) , arrived too late, so his “yes” vote didn’t count.