What’s in the Bill & Its Impacts
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This sweeping 940-page bill includes major tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations, funded in part by significant reductions to Medicaid, SNAP, and other social programs politico.com+15fastcompany.com+15nypost.com+15.
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The CBO estimates it would increase the federal deficit by $2.4–3.3 trillion over the next decade, and leave approximately 10–12 million people uninsured en.wikipedia.org+1nypost.com+1.
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It also cuts green energy tax credits, while adding border and defense spending—doing little for middle-class families cbsnews.com+15wsj.com+15wsj.com+15.
🩺 Medicaid Cuts & “Ponzi Scheme” Warning
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The legislation proposes Medicaid funding reductions and stricter work/eligibility requirements, even for families nypost.com+2wsj.com+2nypost.com+2.
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States like South Carolina depend on federal Medicaid support—cuts would hurt working families and rural hospitals the most.
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Senator Graham (SC) has warned similar schemes (like the CLASS Act) have functioned like “Ponzi schemes,” delaying benefits until deficit issues arise govinfo.gov+7lgraham.senate.gov+7nypost.com+7.
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Removing Medicaid support undermines healthcare access and worsens poverty.
✅ What REALLY Helps the People
1. Expand Medicaid & healthcare funding
Invest in Medicaid, healthcare access, and community clinics—preventative care saves lives and cuts long-term costs.
2. Targeted tax relief for working families
Boost the Child Tax Credit, offer earned income credits, and provide rebates for essential expenses, rather than blanket breaks for the ultra‑wealthy.
3. Strengthen social safety nets
Rather than gutting SNAP or Medicaid, protect these programs and enhance benefits for those in need, including rural and disaster-prone areas.
4. Audit & oversight protections
Ensure transparency so taxpayer money goes directly to essential services, not budget skims or corporate giveaways.
🔍 Final Take
While tax reform can be beneficial, balancing the deficit by slashing Medicaid or food assistance is counterproductive—it hurts vulnerable households, raises healthcare costs, and destabilizes communities.
True economic strength comes from empowering the working class, not enabling the wealthy at their expense. South Carolina families need health coverage, job training, and living-wage supports—not budget cuts disguised as reform.
