Setting the record straight: The truth about the One Big Beautiful Bill

As Congress debates the future of tax policy, spending, and other critical programs, the American people deserve better than scare tactics and spin.

Opponents of policy reform are recycling tired myths and misleading claims to block meaningful change and protect the entrenched Washington, D.C. bureaucracy.

The truth? The reconciliation bill charts a responsible path forward, extending the pro-growth tax cuts from President Trump’s first term while taking meaningful steps to rein in reckless overspending.

Let’s set the record straight on three of the most common myths being peddled about the One Big Beautiful Bill.

Myth #1: “Only the wealthy benefited from the Trump tax cuts.”

FACT: This tired, misleading claim gets trotted out every time tax relief is on the table. But that doesn’t make it true.

Nancy Pelosi called the 2017 tax cuts “crumbs” for everyday Americans — but millions of working families used those “crumbs” to pay for gas, groceries, rent, and child care.

Here are the facts: The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act helped all Americans — not just a fortunate few. It lowered taxes across every income level and simplified filing by doubling the standard deduction and adjusting it annually for inflation. That saved Americans not just money, but time and stress during tax season.

• If the cuts expire, 6 in 10 Americans will pay more — some thousands more. A single parent with three kids making $55,000, for instance, would owe $1,889 more per year.
• The Trump tax cuts didn’t just help individuals — they fueled economic growth. Businesses reinvested, created jobs, and increased salaries. Unemployment hit record lows. Inflation stayed in check.

Letting people and businesses keep more of their money isn’t a giveaway to the rich; it’s a proven recipe for a stronger economy that lifts everyone. Ending the tax cuts means more of your paycheck goes to Washington and less stays in your pocket.

Myth #2: “The bill cuts Medicaid for people who rely on it.”

FACT: The reforms to Medicaid included in the One Big Beautiful Bill aren’t about cuts. They’re focused on fixing a broken system to better serve the people who need it most.

Medicaid is riddled with waste, fraud, and abuse. And it is failing the vulnerable populations it is supposed to protect, including the poor, disabled, and pregnant women.

Patients face long waits, can’t find doctors who accept Medicaid, and often receive substandard care.

Opponents call any reform a “cut,” but that’s wrong. Medicaid has expanded far beyond its original mission, straining resources and leaving vulnerable people behind.

• The reconciliation bill reforms Medicaid to improve outcomes, protect access to quality care, and restore the program’s integrity.
• It empowers states with flexibility, encourages innovation, and puts patients — not bureaucracy — at the center of care.

The goal is simple: ensure timely, effective treatment for the truly vulnerable by making the program more efficient, sustainable, and focused on those it was designed to serve.

Myth #3: “This bill explodes the deficit.”

FACT: Tax cuts have not driven budget deficits — out-of-control spending has.

Federal spending has more than tripled since 2001 — the last time the federal budget was balanced — jumping from under $2 trillion to nearly $7 trillion last year.

Meanwhile, interest payments on our $36 trillion debt are now among the government’s biggest expenses.

The 2017 tax cuts sparked a massive economic boom, record-low unemployment, and rising incomes. Growth generates revenue and reduces reliance on government programs.

This bill doesn’t just extend those tax cuts to avoid the largest tax hike in U.S. history:

• The House bill included $1.79 trillion in spending cuts.
• And the House has already approved another $9.4 billion in rescissions.

Deficit reduction starts with economic growth. Letting taxes go up now would crush families and small businesses while doing nothing to solve Washington’s real problem: a chronic addiction to spending your money.

IT’S TIME TO PASS THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL.

This is the defining policy fight of the 119th Congress.

In November, Americans sent a clear message: They want real, lasting solutions. Now, we’re on the verge of delivering the most significant legislation in a generation, one that will benefit every American by:

• Making the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent
• Cutting spending while protecting the safety net
• Ending Biden-era corporate cronyism
• Providing long-overdue certainty for families, job creators, and investors

We urge all senators to support this pro-growth package because Americans are counting on tax reform that lets them build their businesses, plan for the future, and chase the American Dream.

The Senate must act now. Let’s get this bill passed, sent back to the House, and signed into law by July 4 — before this rare window of opportunity closes.