BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Late last month, House Republicans passed President Donald Trump’s multitrillion dollar tax breaks package known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
Viewed as central to Trump’s agenda, the vote was called at 215-214, with Democrats staunchly opposed.
The bill next goes to the Senate, with long negotiations expected.
This week on Political Pulse, reporter Tom Shortell and political scientist Chris Borick discuss the political and social repercussions of the Republican tax and spending package.
“At its heart, it’s an extension and expansion of the Trump tax breaks from 2017,” Shortell said.
Those cuts reduced tax rates for corporations and individuals, and increased the standard deduction and family tax credits.
To that end, Borick emphasized tax cuts are generally received positively by the American public, but “it’s when you lay in the conditions and you frame based on who’s getting the tax cut, who’s not getting the tax cut, and how that might shape perceptions across very diverse demographics.”
Borick said this time, things get murkier when cuts involve the wealthiest percentage of Americans.
“A good segment of the population is not pleased with the idea that the wealthiest Americans are going to receive a continued tax break,” he said.
He pointed out that provisions of the bill do touch working class Americans, such as no tax on tips or overtime, but the core of the legislation is getting mixed reviews.
To learn more, check out the latest episode of Political Pulse on the PBS39 YouTube channel or by clicking play on the module at the top of this article.
