Virginia Republicans Bow to Trump and Betray Constituents

Every Virginia Republican member of Congress voted for the horrific "big beautiful bill" backed by the Felon.  Every Virginia Democrat in Congress voted against the bill both because it savages social programs and also because it adds trillions of dollars to the national debt.  Much like the Felon, all of the Republicans who voted for the bill lied through their teeth and claimed few would be harmed by the bills provision and utterly ignored the huge increase to the national debt that will result. They also ignored the huge tax cuts given to the very wealthy under the bill.  (In the interest of full disclosure, the husband and I could see a not insignificant cut in our taxes - assuming we don't have to flee the country as anti-LGBT measures increase - but in good conscience, I cannot ignore the widespread harm that will be inflicted on many Americans.)  Perhaps the worse Republican liar of all is Jen Kiggans, who worked in the health care field, and  who has to know that many will lose access to health care -300,000+ Virginians will likely suffer and six or more rural hospitals in Virginia may ultimately be forced to close - but chose to prostitute herself to the Felon and to betray so many Virginians. One can only hope Democrats field a strong candidate who can defeat Kiggans and send her into retirement.  Statewide, voters in Southwest Virginia and rural areas that voted for Republicans will reap what they have sown.  A piece in the Virginian Pilot looks at the vote:

Republican leaders in the House found enough votes Thursday to pass President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” after several Republicans flipped their votes overnight to support the massive bill.

Overall, the bill will raise the country’s debt ceiling by $5 trillion. The bill also shifts budget priorities to add roughly $150 billion in new national defense spending, with priorities including shipbuilding, and more than $160 billion to expand U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.

In total, the bill is expected to increase the national deficit by $3.4 trillion over the next decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office, a nonpartisan body created by Congress in 1974.

The bill is poised to gut social services in order to pay for the spending plan. The bill reduces federal Medicaid and Affordable Care Act spending by nearly $1 trillion over the next decade, which is projected to eliminate coverage for 11.8 million Americans. The Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance program will see more than $200 billion cut over the same time, with states responsible for shouldering costs and harsher requirements to qualify for food stamps. Other social services like Planned Parenthood would also be defunded.

The 218-214 vote came with two Republicans joining Democrats in opposing the revised bill, which the Senate approved with Vice President JD Vance breaking a tie on Tuesday.

Here’s how Hampton Roads lawmakers reacted to the bill, which now heads for Trump’s desk to be signed into law on Friday.

Rob Wittman

Wittman, a Republican representing Virginia’s 1st District, voted for the bill despite previously joining Rep. Jen Kiggans and other Republicans to voice concerns over its impacts on Medicaid. In a statement issued after passage, Wittman said the bill eliminates waste in Medicaid and provides protections for Americans both financially and through national defense.

Jen Kiggans

Kiggans, a Republican representing Virginia’s 2nd District, voted for the bill.

Kiggans said in a statement she ultimately supported the bill due to its investments in border security, national defense and tax cuts, and added she believes to reduced spending to programs like Medicaid and SNAP aren’t about cutting support, but more about promoting “long-term independence” for Virginians.

Bobby Scott 

Scott, a Democrat representing Virginia’s 3rd District, voted against the bill. He said in a statement the bill hurts more than 300,000 Virginians who are now at risk of losing health care, and added the bill balloons the nation’s debt and is worse for Americans than if Congress had done nothing.

“Once again, Republicans rushed to jam their Big, Ugly Bill through Congress,” Scott said. “This bill is a collection of policies that will harm America’s working families, bestow tax breaks on the wealthy, and significantly increase the national debt. Every single Democrat in Congress voted against it, while almost every Republican in Congress voted for it while having the audacity to try to call the legislation ‘beautiful.’”