Senate Democrat: Nation would be 'sicker, hungrier, and less well-off' if GOP megabill passes

Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) ripped the GOP’s “big, beautiful bill” Thursday as the House scrambles to get the reconciliation package to President Trump’s desk by a July 4 deadline, claiming the U.S. would be “sicker, hungrier and less well-off” if it is signed into law.

“Once Americans realize the real cost of this bill, they will be angry, because it’s going to impact every American,” Coons told CNN’s John Berman on “CNN News Central.”

“Our health care costs will go up, our emergency room wait times will go down, and our nation as a whole will be sicker, hungrier and less well-off as a result of this bill,” he added Thursday.

The Delaware Democrat’s comments came after House Republicans overcame a dramatic procedural vote overnight to advance the massive spending and tax bill. Trump and party leaders have leaned heavily on the holdouts to come on board ahead of the final vote — when the GOP can only stand to lose three votes total.

The president also spoke by phone to a handful of GOP lawmakers early Thursday morning, after asking skeptics in the party in a post online, “What are you trying to prove???”

As the House prepared for a final vote on the sprawling package, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) took to the floor to give his “magic minute” address. The hourslong speech broke former Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s previous record for longest floor speech in the lower chamber — speaking out against the GOP megabill for 8 hours and 44 minutes, and delaying the vote.

Democrats have vehemently opposed the bill in both chambers for its extended tax breaks they argue benefit the wealthy as well as sweeping cuts to Medicaid, the federal food stamp program and green tax credits. Critics on both sides of the aisle have also pushed back against an expected increase to the national debt.

“Jesus fed the hungry, healed the sick, and loved His neighbors — we’re told to do the same,” Coons wrote earlier this week on social platform X.

“But the GOP tax bill that just PASSED serves billionaires while starving those who need support the most,” he said, referring to the Senate-passed version of the bill. “It’s immoral and unfaithful.”