It’s hard to summarize a piece of legislation that is more than 1,000 pages and includes 42 pages of amendments — but that didn’t slow those on the wrong side of the 215-214 late last night/this morning that passed what is being called a “big, beautiful bill.”
Gov. Phil Murphy, who — like many — sees the legislation as one that provides tax cuts for the wealthy at the expense of the poor, reacted strongly Thursday.
“This bill is a disaster for the American people and the people of New Jersey,” he said in a statement. “By passing this legislation overnight, House Republicans are clearly aware that their extreme, far-right agenda does not reflect the values or priorities of our fellow citizens.
“In one fell swoop, this bill would rip away health care coverage from struggling families, cut food assistance for our most vulnerable neighbors and children, and raise costs on hardworking Americans.”
Murphy called out Republican Congressman Jeff Van Drew (2nd District), Chris Smith (4th District) and Tom Kean (7th District) by name.
“Congressmen Kean, Smith, and Van Drew shamefully voted to approve these devastating cuts and caved on fully repealing the SALT deduction in order to shower billionaires and gun manufacturers with budget-busting tax breaks that will explode our deficit,” he said.
“They have betrayed the people they represent, who will suffer the consequences of their actions.”
Kean, obviously, disagreed with Murphy’s interpretation of the bill. He touted its benefits for New Jersey – see story here.
A version of the bill still needs to pass the Senate before it can be sent to President Donald Trump for his signature.
There’s no telling if that will happen — some Senate Republicans have said they want changes — but if it does go through, Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adleman was able to put a price tag on one item from the bill.
Adleman said the bill alone will shift an additional $78 million of costs to the state to help cover shortfalls for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Known as SNAP (think “food stamps”), the program provides monthly food benefits to low-income individuals and families to help them purchase groceries.
The cost currently is split between the federal government and the state. The bill would force states to now pick up 75% of the cost.
An analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that if the bill were to become law, “in general, resources would decrease for households in the lowest decile (tenth) of the income distribution, whereas resources would increase for households in the highest decile.”
Cathy Bennett, the CEO of the N.J. Hospital Association, said the impact of the bill would be devastating to her members — and the state.
“Food stamps, Medicare and Medicaid — programs that New Jersey’s seniors, children, families and those with disabilities rely on — will all be profoundly impacted,” she said. “We continue our fight to protect New Jerseyans.”
