Rep. Doggett: “The Republican deficit hawks have become chicken hawks in submission to Trump”
Like arsonists claiming to be firefighters, Republicans talk fiscal responsibility while adding trillions to the national debt and threatening the solvency of Social Security and Medicare.
Contact: Alexis.Torres@mail.house.gov
Washington, D.C.—Today, in the early morning hours after an all-night debate, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) voted against President Trump’s and the GOP’s Tax Scam. To pay for even more tax breaks for billionaires like Elon Musk, their bill includes devoting $20 billion to undermining public schools with a new federal voucher scheme, ripping food assistance away from hungry families, repealing renewable energy credits, and denying nearly 14 million Americans access to a family physician and medications while triggering a $500 billion automatic cut to Medicare.
Under the cover of darkness, through late-night debates, votes and meetings, Republicans rejected 522 amendments from Democrats, including three from Rep. Doggett to protect health care access, public schools, and to ensure any benefits from the bill only go to the 98% of Americans making under $400,000 a year, and no tax breaks for the country’s richest 2%.
Trump’s “one big, beautiful bill” will lead to those earning $1 million or more annually to benefit 310x more than those making $50,000 or less. Indeed, the poorest 10% of Americans will see their incomes decrease due to all the cuts in this bill. The legislation now heads to the Senate, where it will likely be substantially changed.
For more than 29 hours, Rep. Doggett and House Democrats led sustained opposition to Republicans' Tax Scam. His remarks on the House floor can be viewed here, and a transcript is below.
U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett
House Floor Speech
May 22, 2025
Breaking yet another promise, Republicans are cutting Medicare by $500 billion.
On October 1 of this year, every Medicare healthcare provider will see a 4% cut, and that will occur year after year as seniors try to find someone who will accept Medicare.
On January 1, millions of Americans who rely on the Affordable Care Act will lose their access to a family physician. Medicaid for those in nursing homes and for half the babies born in my hometown of Austin is cut. Almost 14 million Americans will lose their access to health care.
The new Trump school voucher sabotage plan, atop State vouchers, incentivizes removing students from public schools.
Meanwhile, our national debt, soaring by trillions from Republicans who talk fiscal responsibility but serve their cult leader, the deficit hawks have become chicken hawks tonight in submission to Trump, the self-described king of debt.
All to reward billionaires with even more tax breaks.
###