Oklahoma congressmembers vote to pass ‘big beautiful bill’ as critics warn of sweeping cuts to social services, healthcare
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — A sweeping Republican-backed bill heading to President Trump’s desk is drawing both praise and outrage in Oklahoma, with supporters calling it a historic win for working families and critics warning it could devastate essential social services with far-reaching consequences.
The so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” passed the U.S. House on Thursday by a razor-thin margin, sending it to President Trump for his signature at a ceremony scheduled for Friday.
Congress remains deeply divided over the legislation.
Some lawmakers call it a historic victory for working families, while others warn it could devastate social services and increase income inequality.
The bill will slash taxes, boost funding for immigration enforcement and the military, and temporarily end taxes on some tips and overtime.
It also includes steep cuts to Medicaid, food benefits, and clean energy programs.
“To put it simply, this bill is President Trump’s Make America Great Again agenda being codified into law,” U.S. House Majority Whip Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minnesota) said after the bill’s passing Thursday.
Every member of Oklahoma’s congressional delegation voted in favor of the bill.
Rep. Kevin Hern called it something “that everyone can be proud of.”
Rep. Stephanie Bice said it was “about delivering real support to hardworking Americans.”
Sen. Markwayne Mullin appeared on NBC’s Meet the Press this week to defend the plan.
“It’s the largest deficit cut by any Congress ever in history,” Mullin said. “It makes tax cuts permanent.”
The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates the bill will add more than $3 trillion to the national debt.
Oklahoma State Democratic Party Chair, State Rep. John Waldron (D-Tulsa), described the bill in his own way.
“Tax cuts for Bezos and Musk, service cuts for the rest of us,” Waldron said. “We’re out tens of millions of dollars in food programs. We’re losing tens of millions of dollars in medical research to institutions like OU and OSU. They’re even cutting things like weather services in a state that really relies on accurate weather forecasts.”
The CBO estimates the Medicaid cuts alone could strip health coverage from more than 11 million Americans.
About one in four adults and half of all children in Oklahoma rely on SoonerCare, the state’s Medicaid program.
“A good portion of my patients could lose their coverage,” said Dr. Peter Sinton, a pediatrician in rural Kay County.
“If we really want a pro-family approach here in Oklahoma, we should not be cutting that kind of care,” Waldron said.
Oklahoma healthcare leaders warn the cuts will likely lead many rural hospitals across the state to close permanently, creating so-called ‘healthcare deserts’ in rural areas.
“$6.3 billion in Medicaid reimbursements will be taken away from the state of Oklahoma,” said Rich Rasmussen, president and CEO of the Oklahoma Hospital Association. “And it will be hard to recover from that.”
On Thursday, the Oklahoma State Medical Association’s president issued a statement, saying in part:
While some may look at the bill and believe it won’t impact them, it’s essential to remember that our healthcare system is interconnected. If a rural hospital or clinic lacks sufficient financial support, it is likely to close. If a physician cannot continue their practice due to the cuts, they may choose to stop seeing Medicaid patients or leave the medical field altogether. The unfortunate truth is that we may all see the ripple effects of this ill-informed legislation for many years to come.
Oklahoma State Medical Association President Sumit Nanda
On Thursday, Sen. Mullin dismissed those concerns as fear-mongering during an appearance on Fox News.
“They’re gonna be the ones that’s gonna have to explain why these lies that they said, that tens of thousands of people are gonna be dying each year,” Mullin said on Fox News. “They’re gonna have to explain where all those morgues are that’s holding those bodies, ‘cause they won’t exist.”
In a statement, the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma called the bill’s cuts to SNAP benefits and other food assistance programs “deeply troubling,” saying it “threatens access to healthcare and food assistance for thousands of Oklahomans.”
On Thursday, an interfaith group of clergy members from Catholic, Episcopal, Jewish, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Muslim communities signed on to a letter saying in part:
“….the moral test of a nation is how it treats those most in need of support. In our view, this legislation will harm the poor and vulnerable in our nation, to the detriment of the common good. Its passage would be a moral failure for American society as a whole.”
Waldron said Oklahoma Democrats see the bill’s passing as a moment to reflect and regroup.
“I do see the Democrats as having a mission and calling out the injustices of this bill that’s going to add $3 trillion to the deficit,” Waldron said. “I think people voted for change because they didn’t like where we were on Election Day. But I don’t think they got the change they wanted.”