HARRISBURG, PA – May 22, 2025 − This morning, Republicans in the US House of Representatives passed a budget bill that will result in 15 million Americans losing their health insurance and 3 million American families losing access to healthy food.
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) and Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) released the following statement in response to the shameful movement of the Republican Tax Scam:
“Congressional House Republicans passed legislation that will hurt Pennsylvanians, Pennsylvania communities, and Pennsylvania’s economy, for the sole purpose of cutting taxes for America’s ultra rich.
From the minute Republicans announced their plan to cut trillions of dollars in federal spending to fund their tax cuts, state lawmakers across the country, including us, sounded the alarm about the impact these cuts will have on Pennsylvania families and Pennsylvania’s budget. Republicans claim they are saving money, but they are not. They are simply pushing the cost of these programs onto the states, which don’t have the financial resources to fill the hole they are putting in state budgets.
Make no mistake, the so called “big, beautiful bill” is a big disaster for Pennsylvania, with rural Pennsylvania likely to see devastating consequences. Yet, our Senate Republican colleagues have been and remain silent, apparently afraid to speak up for their constituents.
Pennsylvania’s elected Senators and Representatives, Republicans and Democrats alike, have a responsibility to condemn the cuts in this bill. It’s time for our state Republican colleagues to speak up. It’s time for them to join Democrats in calling out the impact these cuts will have on Pennsylvania families and communities. At this critical inflection point, every single Pennsylvania legislator should be working together to stop these cuts, regardless of our party affiliation.
This morning, 215 Congressional Republicans voted for the biggest healthcare cut in history. 10 of those Republicans represent Pennsylvania. Those 10 representatives sold out Pennsylvania to cut taxes for billionaires. The silence from our state Republican colleagues speaks volumes.”
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