Montana’s congressional representatives are backing President Donald Trump’s expansive budget bill, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, currently moving through the U.S. House. While supporting the budget aimed at reducing spending on programs like Medicaid and food assistance, they voiced concerns over provisions impacting public lands. The bill also seeks to offset the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act’s costs by proposing changes to the Interior Department’s management of public land.
Some House Republicans oppose the bill, arguing it doesn’t sufficiently reduce the federal deficit, with Trump resisting this faction’s pressure. Republican Rep. Ryan Zinke supports shrinking government programs but opposes federal land sales. “Whatever we have in savings, that will roll over…to the tax provisions so the Americans don’t get caught with the biggest tax increase in the history of this country,” Zinke told The Hill Sunday.
Zinke’s office estimates nearly 56,000 families in his district could lose child tax credits if tax cuts lapse, while over 7,500 farms might face increased estate taxes. Meanwhile, the bill proposes Medicaid work requirements, potentially affecting 13,000 adults in Zinke’s district, saving the federal government $280 billion as per a Congressional Budget Office analysis. Zinke argues these measures target those “riding the system” and wouldn’t harm deserving beneficiaries.
Montana Democrats urged the state’s Republican delegation to oppose Medicaid cuts affecting abortion service providers like Planned Parenthood, warning of significant impacts on routine health services. Eastern Montana Rep. Troy Downing supports reducing funding for such organizations, citing opposition to abortion. The bill also includes contentious provisions like directing the Interior Department to sell 500,000 acres of public land, opposed by Zinke and Downing.
Environmental changes proposed in the bill, like altering the National Environmental Policy Act and reducing fossil fuel royalties, have drawn scrutiny. Zinke stands firmly against public land sales, partnering with Rep. Gabe Vasquez to form a Public Lands Caucus. The House Rules Committee scheduled a rare meeting to advance the bill, which faces 304 proposed amendments, mostly from Democrats.
—
Read More Montana News
