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Trump's sweeping budget legislation has been described as the biggest Medicaid cut in U.S. history. House Republicans passed the bill early Thursday morning in a 215-214 vote. The legislation would trigger massive cuts to Medicare and Medicaid over the next 10 years, denying coverage to an estimated 7.6 million Americans, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Food assistance under the federal SNAP program would also see $300 billion in cuts, while adding billions in funding for Trump's mass deportation agenda and giving the wealthiest Americans a tax break.
"The legislation is basically a mugging conducted by the 1% against the rest of us. It represents the single largest upward redistribution of wealth effectuated by any piece of legislation in our history," says Chris Lehmann, D.C. bureau chief for The Nation.
Senate Republicans, who have voiced some concerns over the bill, will now have to pass their own version of the budget. With all Democratic senators opposed to the package, Republicans are working to use the reconciliation process to avoid a filibuster.
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Immigrants and wealthy universities, as well as foreign companies, would see higher taxes under the House-passed bill.
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Get the latest news on President Donald Trump's return to the White House and the Republican-led Congress.
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The House-passed bill includes a large tax cut, as well as more money for defense and immigration enforcement, financed in part by slashing health, nutrition, education and clean energy programs.
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