How Indiana's U.S. representatives voted on the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
The massive budget reconciliation bill, which narrowly passed the U.S. Senate on July 1, passed the House on a vote of 218-214. It is likely to impact Hoosiers through tax cuts and spending cuts to federally supported programs, such as Medicaid. Thousands of Indiana residents could lose access to the public health insurance program for low-income Americans, as well as SNAP benefits.
But the bill also makes permanent the 2017 tax cuts from the first Trump term, which were due to expire at the end of this year and would have resulted in a $1,900 average tax increase for Hoosiers in 2026. The bill goes further on other tax cuts, eliminating clean energy tax credits and instituting a short-term tax break on tips and overtime wages.
More: From taxes to Medicaid, 4 ways Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' could impact Hoosiers
Indiana representatives' votes remained unchanged from their initial votes on the bill when it left the House in late May, despite skepticism some Republican members expressed over changes in the Senate that are expected to increase the national debt.
U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz threatened to withhold her vote on a procedural step to advance the bill but later voted with Republicans to allow the bill to proceed.
U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman posted on X July 1 that changes made in the Senate include "unacceptable increases to the national debt and the deficit." In the post Stutzman said he was "willing to work through the 4th" to improve the bill but voted for its passage on July 3.
"This bill was not perfect, but it gives all Americans a fresh start by curbing the last 4 years of disaster under Joe Biden," Stutzman said in a July 3 post following the passage of the bill.
U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, a Democrat representing Northwest Indiana, said in a post on X he voted against the measure because it creates uncertainty for Hoosiers.
"I opposed this measure because I cannot in good conscience leave people behind," Mrvan said. "The Republican Majority made a decision to prioritize their elite donors and corporations, and now our seniors, veterans, hard-working Americans, women, children and those yet to be born will pay with increased costs and possibly their lives."
The House vote follows a Senate vote earlier this week where Vice President J.D. Vance cast a tie-breaking vote to advance the bill on a 51-50 vote. Both U.S. Sens. Todd Young and Jim Banks voted in favor of the bill.
Big Beautiful Bill 101: What you need to know about Trump's tax bill
USA TODAY contributed to this story.
Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Brittany Carloni at brittany.carloni@indystar.com and government accountability reporter Hayleigh Colombo at hcolombo@indystar.com.
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