Reps Amo, Magaziner responds to passage of Trump, GOP ‘big bill’

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives approved a budget reconciliation bill pushed by President Donald Trump on Thursday morning with a 215-214 vote.

Democratic Rhode Island Congressman Gabe Amo was the first of the Rhode Island Delegation to respond to the bill’s House passage.

Amo’s statement reads:

This budget debate is about values. And House Republicans just made their values very clear. They held overnight markups, they made backroom deals, and they tried to jam their bill through in the middle of the night. But their values of cutting health care, school meals, mental health services, nursing home care, and the chance at a higher education for millions of Americans are on full display because of Democrats’ work.

The big, bad bill Republicans rammed through the House will hurt tens of thousands of Rhode Islanders to give billionaires a tax break. Their broken promise and betrayal of the American people transfers wealth from the bottom 10 percent to the top 10 percent.

As this bill moves to the Senate, I will fight at every step of the way to stop this bill from becoming law and call out its cruel, callous, and cold-hearted harms. I will continue to stand up for Rhode Islanders and our shared values to ensure that everyone can thrive in our country.

Democratic Rhode Island Congressman Seth Magaziner also weighed in on the legislation’s passing:

While Americans were sleeping, House Republicans pushed through their Billionaire Tax Cut plan under the cover of night – and early this morning I voted no.

This cruel bill would rip health insurance away from 14 million people and slash $300 billion in food assistance, all to fund the largest transfer of wealth from working people to the ultra-wealthy in our country’s history.

I’ll keep speaking out for Rhode Islanders as this dangerous legislation moves to the Senate.

The bill will now go on to the U.S. Senate.