Jeffries slams ‘one, big ugly bill’ in ‘magic minute’ speech
In a recent address delivered during teh “magic minute” privileges on the House floor, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) criticized the GOP’s proposed legislation, referring to it as the “one big, ugly bill.” He took the podium at 4:53 a.m.as Democrats aimed to halt the passage of the bill, which he argued would negatively impact the quality of life for numerous Americans, particularly concerning changes to Medicaid funding and eligibility. Jeffries shared personal stories of individuals who coudl be harmed by the bill, emphasizing its perceived shortcomings, including cuts to food assistance programs and potential restrictions on health services. His lengthy speech came after a historically extended procedural vote, highlighting ongoing tensions as the GOP pushed to meet their legislative deadlines. Jeffries accused Republican leadership of rushing the bill’s passage and described the proposed work requirements for medicaid as merely a “smokescreen.”
Jeffries holds House floor in ‘magic minute’ speech to slam ‘big, ugly bill’
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) is using his “magic minute” privileges to deliver a long floor speech in one of the Democrats’ final efforts to oppose and stall President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill.”
Jeffries took the House floor at 4:53 a.m., after House Republican leadership worked through the night to flip several holdouts during a procedural vote, to blast the GOP’s bill before the chamber votes on its final passage. He dubbed the GOP legislation the “one big, ugly bill” and said he would tell stories of people who could be hurt by its passage.
“I’m going to take my time and ensure that the American people fully understand how damaging this bill will be to their quality of life,” Jeffries said early in his speech.
During the House’s first passage of the legislation in May, the minority leader spoke for approximately 40 minutes. “Magic minute” is a procedural rule in the House that comes after the bill is debated and before final passage, allowing leadership of both parties to have unlimited speaking time.
Jeffries’s speech came after a long day in the House. The floor remained open for more than seven hours, making history as the longest continuous vote, before GOP leadership was met with its first victory of the day.
Magic minute speeches can run for hours. Then-Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy used his magic minute to speak for eight hours and 32 minutes before the passage of then-President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better Act in 2021.
Jeffries may be aiming to break that record and signaled Thursday morning he intended to take his “sweet time” to read personal stories from Americans who could be hurt by the changes to the bill regarding Medicaid funding and eligibility requirements.
House Republicans muscled the “big, beautiful bill” through a procedural hurdle on the floor overnight Thursday, voting 219 to 213 to adopt the rule, with one Republican joining all Democrats to vote against the procedural measure. The sole dissenter was Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA).
The rule vote was dramatic, starting at 9:33 p.m. on Wednesday and lasting until 3:24 a.m. Thursday. During the vote, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) called into Sean Hannity’s show on Fox News to say the floor will stay open until he can flip the votes needed. “I’ll keep it open as long as it takes,” Johnson said.
Jeffries accused the GOP of jamming the bill through “every step of this journey” as it rushed to meet the self-imposed deadline of July 4.
“If Republicans were so proud of this one big, ugly bill, why did debate begin at 3:28 in the morning?” Jeffries asked.
Concerns surrounding Medicaid have cropped up throughout the GOP’s budget reconciliation process, which has taken place over the last several months and includes cuts in funding as part of Republicans’ effort to offset spending to make Trump’s 2017 tax cuts permanent.
“I rise today in strong opposition to Donald Trump’s one big, ugly bill,” Jeffries said. “This disgusting abomination, the GOP tax scam that guts Medicaid, rips food from the mouths of children, seniors, and veterans and rewards billionaires with massive tax breaks.”
REPUBLICAN ‘BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’ CLEARS HOUSE HURDLE, SETS UP FINAL PASSAGE
Democratic leadership in the House has searched for ways to counter the trifecta in Washington, with Medicaid being a unifying area of messaging in the 119th Congress.
The massive tax and spending bill includes Medicaid work requirements for single, able-bodied adults.
During his speech, Jeffries called the work requirements within the bill a “smokescreen,” claiming that the provision is a “paperwork” requirement.
Beyond Medicaid, the legislation also cuts into Planned Parenthood by stopping Medicaid funds from being allowed to reimburse health clinics that provide abortions, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamps, would be cut through work requirements and other eligibility changes.
It includes a phase-out of green energy credits passed under Biden’s administration.
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