One of our nation’s most prominent newspapers provided better insight into what is referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R.1) to an about-to-be-stun-gunned American public, taking the mask off a massive Congressional bill that would, if passed, affect every aspect of American life.
This One Big Beautiful Bill Act was introduced in Congress on May 20 and passed by the Republican controlled Congress on May 22 – two days later. All attempts to debate content within the bill by non-Republican members of Congress were ignored. If the U.S. Senate votes to pass this bill, it will become law. The Trump White House is urging the Senate to pass this bill ASAP.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is a 1,037 page document, riddled with oblique references to established law that would be up-ended if the bill passes in the Senate. There are, as the New York Times writes, “Hidden Ways Trump’s Megabill Would Remake America” for everyone.
Would there be winners and losers? Of course – there would be winners and losers. You have already heard about major changes to Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security and the detrimental effect these changes would have on millions of people. But, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act changes everything – and I mean everything. Everything about American life would be affected: agriculture, the armed services, energy, commerce, financial services, homeland security, border security, customs – and the judiciary.
The judiciary? Yes, the judiciary.
As the recent article points out, “An under the radar provision of the bill would brazenly undermine the power of federal courts.” Holding parties in contempt of court gives our federal court system remedy for blatantly ignored court rulings. What potential criminal would not want to eliminate that remedy? The new “system” would weaken the very justice system that has enabled the nation to survive.
Let’s be clear, the “power of U.S. Courts to hold parties in contempt of court has deep roots in English common law and has evolved significantly throughout U.S. history. The power to punish contempt was established by the late 18th century.” Then, “Following the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, Congress established the lower federal courts and explicitly granted them the power to punish contempt of their authority through the Judiciary Act of 1789.”
President Trump and Trump’s Congress are intending to up-end well over 200 centuries of English precedent and American civil law? Rather bold, I would say, not to mention unwise.
Perusing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, I came across Section 530A, regarding Trump Accounts. Trump Accounts? What are Trump Accounts and who would these benefit? The section reads, “A Trump account means a trust created or organized in the U.S. for exclusive benefit of an individual” and then goes on to state that Trump accounts “shall not be includable in the gross income of the distributor,” meaning the individual. What is that about? Would certain individuals be exempt from taxation, using a financial Trump Trust? I think people should understand a little more about this before the Senate passes this bill.
With such rapid passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act by the 119th Congress, who, including congressional representatives, could evaluate this bill effectively? It is too much, too fast. It is everything all at once. And, it is not “beautiful.”
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If President Trump sees this bill as “beautiful,” I think there are a lot of other people who think is very ugly.
Sallie Marsico lives in Norwalk.
