Statement of Sens. Warner & Kaine on Partisan Megabill Being Signed into Law

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) issued the following statement as President Trump signs into law the GOP’s partisan budget megabill:
“Donald Trump and congressional Republicans have made it clear that they are willing to sell out millions of Americans in order to give tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy. This legislation is cruel and reckless – tearing health care away from millions of Americans, slashing critical assistance programs, killing jobs, and exploding our debt. Virginians deserve better, especially on a day that is meant to be about celebrating the promise of America and freedom from tyranny.”
Sens.WarnerandKaineintroduced a series of amendments in an attempt to improve the legislation. Republicans blocked them.
The senators have been sounding the alarm about the effects of the GOP plan on Virginia families, noting that the GOP plan willstrip health insurance from about 323,000 Virginians,saddle families with medical debt,cut SNAP benefits for more than 204,000 Virginians, anddevastate rural communities. The legislation will alsoexplode the deficit,jeopardize more than 20,000 Virginia jobs,raise energy costs,give the richest 0.1% a $255,125 tax cut, andeliminate a program allowing Americans file federal taxes for free.
###