Why the One Big Beautiful Bill Isn’t Enough – How to Fix It With a Smarter, Balanced Alternative

 

What’s Wrong With the One Big Beautiful Bill

1. Massive Increase in Deficit
The CBO projects the bill will add $2.4 trillion in deficits over 2025–2034 – and rises by $3 trillion once interest is factored in cbo.gov+15americanactionforum.org+15whitehouse.gov+15. Proponents argue tariffs might offset this but experts call that approach unreliable .

2. Undermines Democracy & Rule of Law
A clause prevents federal courts enforcing contempt unless plaintiffs post bond—an attack on judicial checks and balances time.com+5reuters.com+5thedailybeast.com+5.

3. Centralizes Power Through AI Moratorium
It bans state-level AI regulation for 10 years, stripping states of rights and opening the door for Big Tech to exploit gaps time.com+7theverge.com+7foxnews.com+7.

4. Devastates Medicaid and Welfare
Tightening work requirements could cause up to 10.9 million Medicaid losses, especially harming vulnerable communities time.com+2apnews.com+2freepressokc.com+2.

5. Weakens Green Energy & Healthcare Policies
Repeal of climate incentives and ACA subsidies retracts progress on clean energy and health coverage apnews.com+1wsj.com+1.

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🟢 What’s Right About the Bill

• Pro-Business Tax Cuts: Permanently extends TCJA benefits, encourages investment through new credits for overtime, tips, and SALT refunds whitehouse.gov.

• Modernized Air Traffic Infrastructure: Backed by aviation industry as vital updates for ATC systems whitehouse.gov.

• Budget Oversight Measures: Promotes agency transparency and “efficiency initiatives”—though execution may vary.

• Support for Border Patrol & Immigration Enforcement: Widely endorsed by law enforcement and related groups news.com.au.

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🛠️ How to Improve Matters: Deficit, Democracy & Equity

1. Enforce Debt Caps: Limit deficit increases to <2% of GDP annually, with automatic triggers for adjustment if exceeded.

2. Judicial Integrity Clause: Restore courts’ ability to enforce injunctions without bond.

3. Instead of AI Ban → Strategic Oversight: Allow states to regulate safety/ethics, with a federal baseline to prevent abuses.

4. Safeguard Healthcare: Exempt Medicaid cuts tied to essential services and protect coverage for up to 5 million at-risk individuals.

5. Extend Green Energy Incentives: Phase out tax credits gradually over a set period, not abruptly cut.

6. Use Progressive Tax Adjustments: Retain core business incentives but phase out unfair loopholes or add a modest VAT to cover long-term costs.

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✅ A Smarter Alternative Bill: The Balanced Renewal Act

1. Deficit Discipline:

   • Cap deficits at 2% of GDP; all excess spending must be offset by tax or spending adjustments.

2. Balanced Tax System:

   • Tiered corporate tax (5–18%), preserve TCJA for small bus.

   • Payroll tax bolstering via broadened base.

3. Education & Workforce Boost:

   • Student debt caps, Pell eligibility for certificates, high school apprenticeships funded publicly.

4. Healthcare & Safety Net Reform:

   • No Medicaid work penalties, preserve coverage for vulnerable groups, invest in community healthcare and telemedicine.

5. AI & Governance Safeguards:

   • AI oversight doctrine with federal baseline, state flexibility on ethics/regulation.

Summary: This structured approach ensures deficit control, protects democracy, sustains infrastructure, empowers states, and promotes innovation—without risking fiscal or institutional collapse.

Referecnes:

Deficit Impact

• CBO projects the One Big Beautiful Bill will raise deficits by $2.4T over 2025–2034 (and nearly $3T including interest) apnews.com+15apnews.com+15cbo.gov+15.

• Factcheck/KFF estimate 10.9M Americans could lose Medicaid abcnews.go.com+14kff.org+14barrons.com+14.

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🏛 Judicial Power Concerns

• The bill restricts courts from enforcing contempt unless plaintiffs post bonds — a threat to checks and balances .

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🤖 AI State Regulation Ban

• Establishes a 10-year moratorium on state-level AI regulations; big concerns about limiting protections apnews.com+15theverge.com+15washingtonpost.com+15.

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⛑ Medicaid and Healthcare Cuts

• Medicaid work requirements and funding cuts could leave up to 10.9M uninsured wsj.com+15apnews.com+15apnews.com+15.

• SNAP cuts estimated at $230B over 10 years abcnews.go.com+1statnews.com+1.

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🌍 Green Energy Rollbacks

• Repeals key Inflation Reduction Act green initiatives apnews.com+5apnews.com+5arxiv.org+5.

• Moody’s criticized the deficit impact and loss of environmental policy crfb.org.

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✅ Pro-Business Tax Measures

• Extends TCJA benefits and adds credits for overtime, tips, high SALT, and MAGA accounts en.wikipedia.org.

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✈ Air Traffic & Infrastructure Funding

• BACKED by industry for modernization of ATC systems theguardian.com+1techpolicy.press+1.

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🔍 Transparency and Oversight

• The bill mandates monthly agency spending transparency and oversight—from efficiency to watchdog provisions knoxvillewolf.com+15en.wikipedia.org+15factcheck.org+15.

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🛠 Improvements and Alternatives

The suggested changes and the “Balanced Renewal Act” incorporate best practices — debt caps, progressive taxation, preservation of healthcare and environment, and smart transparency — based on:

• Budget rules (e.g. Switzerland, Germany) concepts .

• AI regulation models (EU, decentralized U.S. states) en.wikipedia.org+10arxiv.org+10washingtontimes.com+10.

• Historical reform lessons and balanced fiscal frameworks.