Rhode Island Congressmen Magaziner and Amo Reject Republican Budget Proposal-Resolution Passes in Narrow 217-215 Vote

Republicans, in a narrow 215-215 vote, with all but 1 Republican voting Aye, and all Democrats voting Nay, narrowly passed a budget resolution that featured nearly 2 trillion dollars in spending cuts. Republican voting was “disciplined”, despite growing uneasiness with the public reactions.

Magaziner Rejects GOP Budget That Cuts Health Care, Education to Fund Tax Breaks for Billionaires

From the Office of Congressman Seth Magaziner:

Today, U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) released the following statement following the vote on the House Republican budget proposal in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“Today, I voted against the Republican budget proposal that takes trillions of dollars from the middle class to fund tax breaks for billionaires.

The Republican plan slashes Medicaid, education, and food assistance—making it harder for seniors, families, and working people to get by. Instead of tackling the cost of living, Republicans are handing trillions of dollars to the rich while making the middle class foot the bill.”

Earlier today,  U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) participated in debate on the floor of the House of Representatives, expressing strong opposition to House Republicans’ budget plan.

Set for a vote Tuesday night, the proposal includes major cuts that put Medicaid at risk, jeopardizes education funding, and threatens food assistance for those who need it most—all while proposing $4.5 trillion in tax breaks that would go primarily to the ultra-wealthy.

Magaziner’s full remarks are below: 

I rise in opposition to Donald Trump, Elon Musk and House Republicans stealing trillions of dollars from the middle class to fund massive tax cuts for billionaires. 

Instead of focusing on the cost of living or making America safer, Republicans are planning a massive giveaway to the rich, with working people picking up the tab.

They want $2 trillion in tax cuts for people making more than half a million a year by extending Trump’s 2017 tax plan. And how are they going to pay for it? By cutting Medicaid. That’s health care for 77 million Americans, 80,000 Rhode Islanders, including seniors, children and people with disabilities. Nursing homes and community health centers all across this country will shut down. And it’s not just health care. This bill takes money from education, farmers, and small businesses, all for billionaire tax cuts.

These Republicans are not fighting for you. They are fighting for Donald and Elon’s rich friends at Mar-A-Lago. And you’re paying for it.

I urge my colleagues to vote no, and I yield back.

 

Amo Opposes Passage of House Republicans Budget Resolution

The GOP budget places critical programs for Rhode Islanders like SNAP and Medicaid on the Chopping Block to offset tax cuts for billionaires

From the Office of Congressman Gabe Amo:

Today, Congressman Gabe Amo (RI-01) voted in support of working-class Rhode Islanders by voting no on the Republican budget resolution that could gut key safety net programs. Republicans passed this bill after refusing to consider critical Democratic-led amendments — including Congressman Amo’s efforts to support Medicaid and protect nutrition programs from devastating cuts.

“Tonight, 217 Republicans voted to betray the needs of ordinary Americans to shovel over $1 trillion in tax giveaways to the richest one percent. Across Rhode Island and our nation, real people are at risk thanks to cruel Republican proposals that would cut programs that feed children, provide health assistance through Medicaid to over 72 million Americans, and so much more,” said Congressman Amo, a member of the House Budget Committee. “Instead of working to lower costs, Republicans are charging full steam ahead to abandon their constituents and give tax breaks to billionaires who don’t need them.”

BACKGROUND

Congressman Amo serves on the House Committee on the Budget to fight for budget priorities that reflect Rhode Island values and the needs of working families across the country. The House Committee on the Budget’s chief responsibility is to draft an annual concurrent resolution on the budget that provides the framework for spending and revenue levels, the federal surplus or deficit, and public debt. The Committee is also the first step in the reconciliation process the Republican House majority is using to push the Trump Tax Scam 2.0 — a plan that could cut key programs like SNAP and Medicaid.

 

On February 25, 2025, Congressman Amo took to the House Floor to slam the Republican budget resolution that threatens devastating cuts to critical programs.

On February 24, 2025, Congressman Amo submitted two amendments to the House Committee on Rules. The first amendment would protect SNAP, the Community Eligibility Provision, the School Breakfast Program, and the National School Lunch Program in the Republican budget resolution instructions to the Committees on Education and Workforce, and Agriculture. The second amendment would affirm that Medicaid is a critical program that provides health care, nursing home care, and other life-saving services to 72 million Americans, including 30 million children, and more than 306,000 Rhode Island residents. The amendment supports protecting Medicaid from possible Republican cuts to fund more tax breaks for the wealthy.

Similarly, during the House Budget Committee markup on February 13, 2025, Congressman Amo offered two amendments. His first amendment would support protecting and extending Medicare’s solvency by closing tax loopholes and requiring wealthy taxpayers to contribute more to Medicare. His second amendment would strike the instructions to the Committees on Education and Workforce, and Agriculture to protect SNAP, the Community Eligibility Provision, the School Breakfast Program, and the National School Lunch Program.

On February 19, 2025, Congressman Amo visited the Barrington Peck Center for Adult Enrichment where he spoke about his support for critical programs like Medicare and Medicaid. There, Congressman Amo discussed his work on the Budget Committee to protect these programs from Republican cuts. On February 20, Congressman Gabe Amo joined Dean Ashish Jha of Brown University’s School of Public Health to reaffirm his support for funding health care facilities that provide comprehensive primary care to medically underserved communities, as well as his work to protect critical funding for medical research and public health programs under threat due to cuts by the Trump administration.

Today, Congressman Amo spoke on the House Floor, slamming the Republican budget resolution that threatens devastating cuts to critical programs. Amo’s remarks follow the Republican-controlled House Committee on Rules’ refusal to include Congressman Amo’s amendments to protect nutrition programs and support Medicaid. Video of his full remarks here.

The Republican budget resolution directs specific committees to achieve spending cuts or increases. Republicans leaked menu of options includes:

• At least $880 billion in cuts for the Energy and Commerce Committee, which could target Medicaid, Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium assistance, and repeal Inflation Reduction Act policies.
• At least $330 billion in cuts for the Education and Workforce Committee, which could target student loan programs, income driven repayment, and Pell grants, Head Start, and School lunch.
• At least $230 billion in cuts for the Agriculture Committee, which could target SNAP.
• At least $50 billion in cuts for the Oversight Committee, which could target government employee retirement benefits and changes to federal workforce.
• At least $10 billion in cuts for theTransportation and Infrastructure Committee, which could target restricting Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding, Essential Air Service, increasing the “tonnage tax” on cargo, and raiding the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund.
• At least $1 billion in cuts for the Financial Services Committee, which could target the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and funding for financial regulators.
• At least $1 billion in cuts for the Natural Resources Committee, which could include expanded oil and gas leasing and the repeal of Inflation Reduction Act policies.
• Up to $4.5 trillion in new spending for the Ways and Means Committee, which could include tax cuts for the top one percent, repeal of Inflation Reduction Act policies, cuts to Temporary Assistance to Needy Families and Social Services Block Grant, cuts in Medicare payments to providers, and cuts to Affordable Care Act premium assistance