Congressman Smith Votes NO on Republican Budget Bill That Prioritizes Tax Cuts for the Wealthy Over Critical Services

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) released the following statement regarding the Republican Budget Bill: 
 
“I strongly oppose the Republican budget bill. This bill would balloon the national debt, slash critical services, and deliver nearly $4.6 trillion in tax breaks that overwhelmingly benefit the wealthiest Americans. 

“At a time when families are struggling with rising costs, Congress should be strengthening the programs that invest in American communities, not cutting them to pay for permanent tax breaks for billionaires. 

“The legislation proposes deep cuts to essential programs that millions of Americans rely on. It slashes health care access for 13.7 million Americans, including children, seniors, and low-income families. It also cuts food assistance from over 42 million people across the country, including essential school lunch programs for hungry children.

“These devastating cuts are an attempt to partially offset the revenue losses from massive tax breaks for corporations and ultra-high earners. Under this plan, the top 0.1% of earners—those making more than $4 million a year—would receive an average tax cut of nearly $390,000 in 2026 alone. Meanwhile, the lowest-income families could see their taxes go up or their benefits cut. This tax policy is unfair and deeply unsustainable. 

“Despite these harmful cuts to essential services, the bill still increases the deficit by $3.3 trillion over the next decade, further weakening our fiscal stability just as American families are dealing with higher costs and economic uncertainty. If enacted, this bill would push the national debt to $56.8 trillion by 2034—or even higher if temporary provisions are extended, as many expect. The legislation also includes a $5.5 trillion increase to the debt ceiling, not to invest in our future, but to finance tax cuts that benefit those who need them the least. 

“This is not a serious or responsible budget. It asks working families, veterans, and students to sacrifice, while rewarding the ultra-wealthy with permanent giveaways. I believe we need a budget that protects essential services, invests in opportunity, and restores fiscal integrity—not one that shifts the burden onto those already struggling to get by. 

“I’ll continue to fight for a fairer path forward—one that puts people first and reflects the values of the communities I serve.” 

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Background 

According to nonpartisan estimates, the legislation would: 
 

• Cut nearly $715B from Medicaid, affecting coverage for millions of children, seniors, and low-income families. In WA-09, 204,721 people rely on Medicaid (also known in Washington as Apple Health) for their health care. This includes 91,975 children under the age of 19 and 17,000 seniors over 65 in WA-09;
• It would also eliminate enhanced ACA tax credits, causing premiums to rise by $1,620 a year for the 29,000 people in WA-09 who rely on the ACA. For example, a 60-year-old couple in WA-09 making $85,000 would see their premiums spike by $16,905 a year, a 234% increase;
• Reduce SNAP funding by $290 billion, impacting food assistance for over 42 million Americans and specifically 95,000 people in WA-09 who use SNAP to help put food on the table;
• Raise taxes on the lowest-income households, while delivering over $5 trillion in tax cuts to the wealthiest individuals;
• Add approximately $7 trillion to the national debt over the next ten years, raising fiscal concerns following a recent U.S. credit downgrade. 

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