Adelita Grijalva Calls GOP Bill a Historic Betrayal of the Middle Class

Tucson, Ariz. – Adelita Grijalva, Democratic candidate in the Special Election for Arizona’s 7th Congressional District, issued the following statement in response to the House passage of Trump’s budget bill that kicks more than 13.7 million people off Medicaid, while simultaneously increasing Affordable Care Act premiums for millions of Americans.

"Trump’s big ugly bill is a historic betrayal of the middle class. It proves the Republican party is full of nothing but big lies and broken promises. They promised to help to lower costs and to help working families but their big priority bill does the exact opposite. It cuts health care, food and housing programs, public education, research – essentially every program that pulls Americans out of poverty in order to give a $5 trillion tax cut to their billionaire buddies.

“Instead of lowering costs for child care or housing the bill funds the inhumane deportation machine and a wasteful border wall. Vital public education funds are funneled to a $20 billion private voucher scheme. And America’s chance to be a leader on renewable energy is ruined as this bill will leave our country dirtier and more vulnerable to growing climate disasters.

“Republicans are showing their true colors, and every American should pay close attention. They do not stand with seniors. They do not stand with rural communities. They do not stand for bettering our country or lowering costs. They only stand for lining their own pockets," said Adelita Grijalva.

Background

Under the bill — titled the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”:

• 13.7 million Americans will lose health insurance coverage. (Congressional Budget Office)

  • In AZ-07 cutting the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits will skyrocket health insurance costs for the 36,000 people who have coverage under the ACA by 51% (House Budget Committee)

  • A 60-year-old couple with a household income of $85,000 in AZ-07 would see their health insurance costs increase by $9,777 per year — a 135% increase in premiums. (House Budget Committee).

  • Requires states to impose cost-sharing of up to $35 for medical services each service.

  • Blocks legally present immigrants from accessing Affordable Care Act coverage.

• The increase in deficits under the bill will trigger more than $500 billion in automatic cuts to Medicare under the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go (‘PAYGO’) Act. (Congressional Budget Office)

• Household resources decrease by 2 percent for the bottom 10 percent of the income distribution, growing to a 4 percent decrease by 2033 as Medicaid and SNAP cuts phase in. Meanwhile, the top 10 percent would experience a 4 percent increase in household resources in 2027. (Congressional Budget Office)

• The federal deficit increases by $3.8 trillion due to tax changes. (Congressional Budget Office)

• Unobligated funds for programs from the Inflation Reduction Act including those lowering energy costs, helping to build domestic clean energy manufacturing, combating climate change, environmental justice and workforce training grants are rescinded.(Energy and Commerce Committee)

• Energy permitting infrastructure is replaced with a pay-to-play system that ignores environmental protections for clean water, and clean air. (Energy and Commerce Committee)

The Special Primary Election is scheduled for July 15, with the Special General Election scheduled for September 23. The voter registration deadline for the special primary is June 16, and early voting begins on June 18.

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