Rep. Chu: “Republicans’ Tax Scam Puts Billionaires First”

Rep. Chu in Old Pasadena (File Photo – Many Kravits)

After a marathon 17.5-hour markup session, the House Ways and Means Committee advanced a sweeping Republican tax bill in a 26-19 party-line vote.

By News Desk

The legislation has already sparked fierce criticism from Democrats, including Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), who condemned the measure as a “tax scam” that prioritizes the ultra-wealthy at the expense of working families.

“Republicans’ tax scam puts billionaires first and working families last,” said Rep. Chu in a statement following the vote. “It rips health insurance away from 13.7 million people—the equivalent of every person in Los Angeles and Orange Counties combined.”

The bill includes provisions that, according to Chu, would gut the Affordable Care Act (ACA), enact the largest Medicaid cuts in U.S. history, and eliminate SNAP food assistance for millions of vulnerable families—all in service of delivering trillions in tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans and corporations.

During the markup process, Rep. Chu introduced two amendments aimed at shielding Americans from the most severe impacts of the legislation:

• The “No Tax Cuts for Mega-Millionaires” Amendment, which sought to block new tax breaks for individuals earning over $10 million annually.

• The “Strike ACA Sabotage” Amendment, intended to remove provisions that would raise health insurance premiums, hinder enrollment, and strip millions of their ACA coverage.

“These were simple, common-sense proposals to protect working Americans from the worst parts of this bill,” said Chu. “But every single Republican on the Committee voted no. They’re marching in lockstep with T. and Elon Musk while everyday Americans are left paying the price.”

Chu warned that the consequences of the bill would be dire: millions losing access to affordable health care, spikes in emergency room visits, hospital closures, and seniors being forced out of nursing homes.

The bill now moves to the full House for consideration, where a heated debate is expected to continue.