WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch How Speaker Mike Johnson Passed the GOP's 'Big, Beautiful Bill'
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May 22, 2025 Joining the discussion are Kate Batchelder-Odell, an editorial board member at The Wall Street Journal, and Alicia Finley, a columnist at the same publication. They dissect the narrowly passed GOP tax-and-budget package, highlighting the tussle between fiscal hawks and SALT deduction advocates. The conversation spans critical aspects like defense spending, food stamp reforms, and green subsidies, while also pondering how the Senate may alter the bill. Listeners will gain insights into the legislative maneuvers and political dynamics shaping this hefty 1,000-page legislation.
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Garbarino Misses Vote Tired
- Congressman Andrew Garbarino missed the vote after briefly stepping out due to exhaustion from all-night proceedings.
- Speaker Mike Johnson humorously said he fell asleep too and jokingly threatened to strangle Garbarino, showing camaraderie.
Defense and Welfare Reforms
- The bill significantly boosts defense spending by $150 billion to enhance naval capacity and technological innovation.
- It also introduces modest welfare reform by tightening work requirements for food stamp recipients to encourage employment.
Medicaid Reforms Address Abuse
- Medicaid reforms impose work requirements on able-bodied adults and freeze hospital provider taxes to curb state abuses.
- The bill tightens eligibility checks to prevent states from enrolling ineligible individuals for federal funds.