Local Media Cover Peoples’ Reactions to the Reconciliation Bill as the “Stop the Billionaire Giveaway” Bus Tour Meets with People Across the Country

“We see Trump voters showing up at our events to say: ‘this is not what we voted for.’” - FSA Executive Director Kristen Crowell

Minneapolis, MN - Fair Share America Executive Director Kristen Crowell released the following statement about the final passage of the reconciliation bill:

“This is the ultimate betrayal. I’m hearing from people on the ground day in and day out who are furious that their tax dollars will go to the ultra-wealthy. The predominant concerns we hear from people are about care and costs: What will this mean for their health care? Will they have to go into medical debt to treat cancer or if someone falls ill? How will they stretch their already tight budgets even further? Donald Trump promised them that they would see costs go down. They haven’t, and now things are about to get even worse.”

Crowell, a leader in the tax justice movement, is on the road on the “Stop the Billionaire Giveaway” bus tour sharing the big, horrible details of this new law with people in states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, and today, Minnesota. The bus tour will pick back up on July 7 in Missouri and continue to hold Congress accountable for the harms this bill will bring their constituents just to give more money to the ultra-rich.

“We see Trump voters showing up at our events to say: ‘this is not what we voted for.’” - Crowell yesterday, during an interview with Greg Sargent for his podcast The Daily Blast.

“Many people believed that this administration was going to stand for working people, and they see this bill as the ultimate betrayal. We’ve heard from small business owners, farmers, health care professionals, faith leaders, and even kids who have expressed fear and the rage that this is happening,” Crowell said yesterday after Senate Republicans and Vice President Vance voted 51-50 to pass the bill.

Local media have covered peoples’ reactions to the reconciliation bill as they’ve engaged with the “Stop the Billionaire Giveaway” bus in recent days: 

“‘It’s so disheartening to see so much effort going into getting tax breaks to people who already have more than enough when our public schools are fighting day in and day out just to be able to fund our basic programming, pay our educators and staff members, and to be able to make renovations to our schools that are slowly deteriorating over time,’ says Islam.” (ABC News 19 in La Crosse, WI | July 1)

“With the amended bill heading back to the U.S. House of Representatives, some of the event's speakers focused on Republican U.S. Rep. Brad Finstad, who represents southern Minnesota…’Tell him you don't approve,’ Hicks said. ‘Ask him the hard questions. Don't accept his answer of 'Don't worry, people with disabilities and seniors won't be kicked off.’" (Post Bulletin in Rochester, MN | July 1)

“Dr. Danae Steele, an OB-GYN in the Fox Valley, spoke to the thousands of women who will be without prenatal care if Medicaid is gutted, while urging people to call their lawmakers to oppose the bill.” (Civic Media in Oshkosh, WI | June 30)

“‘What’s in jeopardy is the spirit of America, taking away what America is about,’ [Flint Mayor] Neeley said. ‘Let’s not let the American dream fall victim to greed.’” (The Flint Courier | June 30)

“‘We all deserve to be happy and healthy’: Iowans decry proposed federal budget cuts, tax breaks: ‘This is what I would consider, what I would call idiocracy,’ said Garret Frey, a quadriplegic who relies on Medicaid.” (The Gazette in Cedar Rapids, IA |  June 29)

“Advocates in Michigan blast pending federal cuts to social programs: “There will be Michiganders that don’t survive the cuts if Congress passes the plan, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, General Motors employee and United Autos Worker member Jean Duchemin said during the event on the Capitol lawn.” (Michigan Advance in Lansing | June 27)

“Pennsylvanians call on Republican lawmakers to vote against Medicaid cuts: ‘Cutting Medicaid is cutting off hope. Cutting Medicaid is cutting off safety. Cutting Medicaid is cutting off lives,’ said Autumn Gravier of Harrisburg.” (The Pennsylvania Independent in Harrisburg | June 30)

“‘This tour, for us, is very personal because members of the GOP — especially in Scranton — have ignored their constituents.’” (The Times Tribune in Scranton, PA | June 23)

Video: 

• Watch: Constituents march from @FairShare_USA event to @RepVanOrden’s office in La Crosse opposing reconciliation bill that just passed the Senate.

• Watch: Nancy and nearly 100 other La Crosse, Wisconsin constituents marched to their Representative’s office. The office refused to even open the door to listen to them and hear their personal stories. [FB, X, BS, IG]

• Watch: Kristen Crowell speaks with Aaron Parnas about reactions on the ground.

• Watch: Pastor calls out those who claim to follow Jesus but voted to cut Medicaid and SNAP just to fund tax cuts for billionaires. “We say, b’ullshit.” In La Crosse, Wisconsin. 

• Watch: Hayden is a great kid who relies on Medicaid to live a healthy, happy life. From Davenport, IA [X, BS, IG, FB, TT, Threads]

• Watch: A Pennsylvania woman describes why her conservative family has ended its support for Donald Trump [BS, FB, IG, TT].

• Watch: Medical professionals like Dr Boevers in Cedar Rapids are scared for what this disastrous bill will do to their patients and millions of others who rely on Medicaid to get care [X, BS, Threads, TT]

• Watch: Pittsburgh’s Bethany Hallam is “sick and tired of the billionaires deciding what our lives look like.” [X, BS]

• “Stop the Billionaire Giveaway” Bus Tour Video: Fighting the Reconciliation Bill with Voices from NY, NJ, PA, & OH: “We are making them look at our faces and listen to our voices while they decide to do us harm.” [X, BS, IG, TT]