The Utah House Democratic Caucus released the following statement following the passage of the Big Beautiful Bill in the U.S. Senate:
“The Utah House Democratic Caucus is deeply disappointed by the U.S. Senate’s vote to pass the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill.” Let us be clear: there is nothing beautiful about this legislation. It is a morally indefensible measure that gives massive tax breaks to the wealthy at the expense of the most vulnerable members of our communities.
This bill will have devastating consequences for Utah. Our Medicaid budget totals $5.5 billion through a combination of federal and state funding. Under this bill, nearly $1 billion, or approximately 20% of that funding, will be slashed. The consequences are undeniable: sick, low-income, and at-risk Utahns will lose access to critical healthcare. Programs will be gutted. The quality and availability of services will decline. And rural hospitals, who cover more than just Medicaid patients, will close.
Additionally, this bill will put thousands of Utah families and individuals with disabilities at risk of hunger by eliminating their SNAP eligibility. Without any regard to caregiving responsibilities, access to childcare, or other barriers, this bill will force struggling families into unreachable work requirements that do not improve outcomes, since people who can work already do.
And for what? These painful service cuts are designed to fund fiscally irresponsible tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. This legislation will raise the national debt by an additional $4 trillion over the next decade, fail to serve the vast majority of Utahns, and undermine our state’s ability to respond effectively in times of need.”
