Idahoans take pride in fairness, self-reliance, and our communities. We believe in supporting families, protecting our constitutional freedoms, and stewarding our public lands. That’s why the budget reconciliation bill making its way through Congress is so deeply alarming.

In its current form, this bill is not just bad policy, it’s a dangerous and sweeping attempt to dismantle decades of bipartisan progress. It cuts deeply into programs that serve working families, the elderly, and children, while showering tax breaks on the wealthiest Americans. It also hands unprecedented power to the executive branch, upending the constitutional balance of power. Idahoans across the political spectrum should be concerned.  Here are the numbers:

• $600 billion in Medicaid cuts, which would result in over 8 million Americans losing health coverage. This directly contradicts public promises made by Idaho’s congressional delegation, who have repeatedly stated they would not support cuts to Medicaid.
• $300 billion in food assistance reductions, with children bearing the brunt of the harm.
• $350 billion slashed from student aid, limiting access to education and upward mobility.
• $50 billion cut from pensions and benefits for public service workers, betraying those who’ve spent careers serving their communities.

The elimination of the Department of Education and the defunding of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, two institutions critical to opportunity and economic fairness.

This bill contains deeply troubling provisions that threaten the integrity of the National Park Service, harm wildlife, and undermine environmental protections. Even more alarming are measures that would grant the President sweeping new powers—allowing the revocation of non-profit status, bypassing Congress on taxation, and unilaterally dictating major economic decisions without oversight.

Equally concerning is a provision that would limit the authority of federal judges to hold individuals in contempt of court. This could effectively shield President Trump and members of his administration from accountability for defying court orders—an affront to the foundational principle of checks and balances.

This bill represents an abdication of congressional responsibility and a dangerous step toward authoritarianism. It must be opposed.

Supporters of the bill tout provisions like a tax exemption on tips, but that’s political distraction to hide the devastating core of this legislation. Most Idahoans will not benefit from this bill. On the contrary, most will pay the price through higher healthcare costs or no access at all, fewer educational opportunities, weakened public services and disappearing public lands.

The Medicaid “work requirements” in the bill are particularly deceptive. The majority of able-bodied Medicaid recipients already work. In Idaho, over 80% report income to the Department of Health and Welfare. These individuals are contributing members of our economy—raising families, paying rent, and paying taxes. States that have implemented these rules have seen enrollment drop by 25% or more, largely due to red tape—not ineligibility. Let’s call it what it is: a backdoor cut to healthcare access.

There is a better way. If Congress is serious about reducing the deficit, it should start with policies that align with public opinion and economic reality:

1. Increase the corporate tax rate from 21% to 28%, still below pre-2017 levels, to ensure large corporations contribute their fair share to infrastructure, education, and healthcare.
2. Lift the income cap on Social Security payroll taxes, so high-income earners contribute proportionally to a system millions rely on for retirement.

These are fiscally responsible, widely supported measures that protect core services and promote economic fairness. In contrast, the current bill takes from the poor to give to the rich; it takes from the young to give to the old; and it robs from the future to perpetuate the past.  It takes food away from hungry children, so millionaires and billionaires get a tax cut. How is this our country?

Beyond the budget, this bill raises serious constitutional concerns. By ceding authority to the executive branch on matters ranging from taxation to non-profit oversight, Congress is abdicating its duties under the Constitution. From tariffs declared under dubious “emergencies” to public health breakdowns and cybersecurity failures, the erosion of legislative oversight is accelerating. Idahoans are asking: where is the accountability?

Now is the time for leadership. Both Rep. Fulcher and Simpson voted for this harmful bill.  It passed by one vote – Idaho’s delegation could have made a difference in standing up for Idaho families, but they did not. Senators Risch and Crapo must reject this bill and the cynical politics behind it.

We call on our Senators and Representatives to hold a public town hall—or at the very least, a statewide Zoom forum with a neutral moderator and open mic for questions—so constituents can hear directly from them and raise our concerns in real time.

The stakes are too high for silence. This bill will negatively impact the lives of most Americans. It will hurt Idaho families economically, dismantle essential protections, and shift power further away from the people. We deserve better.  Keep our Representatives and Senators accountable, call and email daily, and let them know we expect better and we will get better in next election cycle.

If our Senators truly believe in Idaho values—hard work, fairness, community, and accountability—they will vote no on this reckless budget bill and work instead toward policies that serve all Americans.