After Parliamentarian Blocks Cost-Shifting Plan
Senate Republicans reportedly began adjusting provisions in President Trump’s comprehensive tax and spending package, known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill” on Saturday morning, after the Senate parliamentarian ruled that proposals to shift Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) costs to states violated chamber rules. The decision prompted GOP lawmakers to explore alternative measures to achieve desired savings while complying with legislative procedures.
As The Hill reports:
Senate Republicans’ latest version of President Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” includes notable tweaks to the party’s proposals to reduce federal spending for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the coming years — after recent pushback from Alaska Republicans.
The bill would still require some states to cover a share of the cost of SNAP benefits, which are currently completely funded by the federal government, if they have a payment error rate above 6 percent beginning in fiscal 2028.
But the updated text also sharpens the proposal even further when it comes to which year’s error rates can be used to help determine the share a state could have to pay under the plan.
The plan explicitly allows states to choose between using data from fiscal years 2025 or 2026 to calculate the states’ match for fiscal 2028. In fiscal 2029 and beyond, the match will be calculated based on the error rate from three fiscal years before.
Legislative Timeline and Challenges Ahead
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) aims to pass the revised bill by the self-imposed July 4 deadline. However, internal divisions within the Republican Party have posed challenges to unifying support. The bill’s passage requires careful navigation of procedural rules and reconciliation with the House version, which narrowly passed in May.
Potential Impact on Federal Deficit
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the legislation could add approximately $2.6 trillion to the federal deficit over the next decade. While the bill includes significant tax cuts and spending reductions, the projected deficit increase has raised concerns among fiscal conservatives and could influence the bill’s reception in both chambers of Congress.
As the Senate continues deliberations, the outcome of these revisions could significantly impact the future of SNAP and broader fiscal policy in the United States.
READ NEXT: MAGA Leader Violently Threatened — Action Taken
Damn Deep State