McGovern Decries GOP Spending Bill as “Rotten,” Cites Impact on Healthcare and Food Aid

Massachusetts Congressman warns of major cuts to healthcare and food assistance, denounces overnight vote and political pressure on GOP moderates.

By Hank Stolz | Radio Worcester

(Photo-democrats-rules.house.gov)

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Representative James McGovern, the ranking Democrat on the House Rules Committee, criticized a sweeping Republican-led spending bill that passed the House by a single vote after what he described as an “extraordinary 24 hours” of debate.

Speaking on Talk of the Commonwealth with host Hank Stolz, McGovern said the legislation, formally titled by Republicans as the “Big Beautiful Bill,” would have serious consequences for his constituents and Americans across the country. “I call it the big ugly bill because it has a lot of harm to people in my district and people all over the country,” McGovern said.

The bill, he noted, was advanced to the Rules Committee for hearing at 1 a.m. and passed on the House floor without a Congressional Budget Office score or independent analysis. “If something’s really beautiful, why would you want to do a hearing at 1 a.m.? Why not 1 p.m.?” he asked.

Cuts to Healthcare and Nutrition Programs

McGovern outlined several provisions he said would result in reduced access to public health and nutrition benefits, including Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). He said cuts to Medicaid could affect low-income individuals and families with elderly members in nursing homes.

On SNAP, he criticized the inclusion of expanded work requirements and additional paperwork, warning they could result in millions of people losing access to food assistance, including single parents of young children.

“If you’re a single mother and you have a child who’s seven, let’s say you lose your job and you can’t find another, you have 90 days to find another job. If not, you’re thrown off your SNAP benefit… for three years,” McGovern said.

He added that the majority of SNAP recipients already work but earn too little to support their families without assistance. “It’s on average about $2 per person per meal. That’s it,” he said.

Legislative Process and Political Pressure

McGovern also criticized the legislative process, stating that last-minute changes were made and that the measure lacked transparency. He expressed concern about the influence of former President Donald Trump, claiming that moderate and conservative Republicans were summoned to the Oval Office before changing their votes.

“He basically threatened them and said, ‘You’re not coming back to Congress if you don’t vote for this bill,’” McGovern said.

McGovern also discussed changes related to the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction that he described as a “skinny deal,” with the cap set at $40,000. “They were trying to get to $80,000 or $100,000 and they didn’t get that,” he said.

Concerns Over Broader Implications

McGovern alleged that the cost savings from cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and possibly Medicare were not earmarked for deficit reduction but instead for tax cuts. “You’re going to steal from those with the least to give more to those with the most,” he said.

He warned that the bill could result in difficult trade-offs for vulnerable families, particularly in rural areas with limited access to jobs and childcare. “We all believe in the dignity of work… but life is complicated,” he said.

The bill has now been moved to the Senate, where McGovern hopes it will be revised. “We fought hard and I think we made some good points,” he said.