NY Democrat voted against Trump's ‘big, beautiful' bill but admits he agrees with 75% of it
'Because those things that I just mentioned are so devastating,' Suozzi (D-NY) told CBS News' 'Face the Nation' Sunday when pressed about his opposition to the megabill.
'I like the idea that we're investing more money to secure the border,' said Suozzi, who represents Long Island and part of Queens. 'I like the idea that we are providing tax breaks to lower-income folks and hard-working middle-class folks and people aspiring to the middle class.'
Advertisement
Host Weijia Jiang had pointed to his recent comments about favoring the bulk of President Trump's marquee agenda bill. Last month, Suozzi told Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, 'I agree with 75% of the stuff that's in the big bill that you guys talk about.'
But the Empire State Democrat argued that preserving the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act's lower rates for the wealthy, the Medicaid cuts and the deficit impact of the megabill were too much for him to stomach.
3 Rep. Tom Suozzi acknowledged that he agreed with a lot of the provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Anadolu via Getty Images
Advertisement
3 President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law last Friday.
REUTERS
'When the economy is doing as well as it has been over the past several years, why would we be providing a tax decrease — tax breaks for some of the wealthiest Americans in our country, while blowing a massive hole in the deficit?' Suozzi added on 'Face the Nation.'
Republicans slashed taxes across the board in 2017 and placed a strong emphasis on reducing the burden on businesses. Proponents of the cuts on the top income tax brackets argued that it will affect small businesses that pay their bills to Uncle Sam as pass-throughs.
High-income taxpayers are forced to pay into every tax bracket, so cutting every tax bracket reduces their obligations to the government.
Advertisement
However, there is some evidence that the top 1% of households paid a larger share of federal taxes after the 2017 tax bill than before it, meaning that taxes were about to go up across the board.
If Congress failed to act, many key provisions of the 2017 tax cut would expire at the end of the year.
Suozzi also ripped into the GOP's inclusion of work requirements on Medicaid, noting that '92% of the people that are able to work are currently working, and the 8% that are not are often people that are taking care of disabled children.'
3 The New York Democrat has put a heavy emphasis on bipartisanship during his tenure in Congress.
Getty Images
Advertisement
'Why would we be taking health insurance and food benefits away from some of the most needy Americans while we're providing what I believe is an unnecessary tax break for some of the wealthiest Americans,' he complained.
House Republicans narrowly squeezed the megabill through the lower chamber last week and President Trump signed it into law on Friday during the Fourth of July.
The megabill featured an extension of the 2017 tax cuts, increased energy production, bolstered border security, defense modernization efforts, spending cuts and a slew of other conservative wish list items.
Suozzi also reiterated his concerns that socialist Zohran Mamdani's shock win in the New York City mayoral Democratic primary should be a wake-up call for his party.
'I disagree with Mr. Mamdani. I have to make that very clear that, you know, I'm a Democratic capitalist. I'm not a Democratic socialist,' Suozzi said.
'But you have to recognize that he tapped into something. He tapped into the same thing that Donald Trump tapped into, which is that people are concerned that the economy is not working for them.'
The Queens and Long Island rep contended that Democrats are often perceived as being 'focused on reproductive rights and on LGBT protections' and need to do a better job of addressing affordability concerns.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Epoch Times
28 minutes ago
- Epoch Times
Hegseth Signals Stronger US Action Targeting Mexican Cartels
Defense chief says the United States will act to defend Americans from cartel violence, while Mexico's president stresses her country's sovereignty. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Aug. 11 that the government is taking action against Mexican drug cartels and will move to protect the American people.
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Zelensky says Putin wants remainder of Ukraine's Donetsk region in potential cease-fire deal
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants Ukraine to withdraw from the remaining 30% of the Donetsk region that it controls as part of a ceasefire deal, a proposal the leader categorically rejected. Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine would not withdraw from territories it controls, saying that would be unconstitutional and would serve only as a springboard for a future Russian invasion. He said diplomatic discussions led by the US focusing on ending the war have not touched on security guarantees for Ukraine to prevent future Russian aggression and that meeting formats currently being discussed do not include Europe's participation, both key demands of Kyiv. 7 In this pool photograph distributed by Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin looks on as he holds a meeting on economic issues in Moscow on August 12, 2025. POOL/AFP via Getty Images Meanwhile, Russian forces on the ground have been closing in on a key territorial grab around the city of Pokrovsk. Zelensky said the necessity of territorial concessions was conveyed to him by US officials ahead of a summit Friday between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, and in further meetings at the level of national security officials. It remained unclear whether Ukraine would take part in the Friday summit. European Union leaders also have been sidelined from the meeting, and they appealed to Trump on Tuesday to protect their interests. Zelensky says Ukraine will not withdraw from the Donbas Zelensky said Putin wants the remaining 9,000 square kilometers (3,500 square miles) of Donetsk under Kyiv's control, where the war's toughest battles are grinding on, as part of a ceasefire plan, in a press briefing on Tuesday in Kyiv. Doing so would hand Russia almost the entirety of the Donbas, a region comprising Ukraine's eastern industrial heartland that Putin has long coveted. 7 Zelensky said Putin wants the remaining 9,000 square kilometers (3,500 square miles) of Donetsk under Kyiv's control. Ukrinform/Shutterstock Zelensky learned of Russia's position after holding a call with Trump and special envoy Steve Witkoff, after the latter's bilateral meeting with Putin. Witkoff told Zelensky that Russia was ready to end the war and that there should be territorial concessions from both sides. Some European partners were also part of the call. 'And that, probably, Putin wants us to leave Donbas. That is, it didn't sound like America wants us to leave,' he said, recounting the call. Zelensky reiterated that withdrawing from Ukraine-controlled territory was out of the question, especially as the question of security guarantees for Ukraine, were not being discussed. 'We will not leave Donbas. We cannot do this. Everyone forgets the first part – our territories are illegally occupied,' Zelensky told reporters at a briefing on Tuesday. 'Donbas for the Russians is a springboard for a future new offensive.' Zelensky said this is what occurred in 2014 when Russia illegally annexed the Crimean Peninsula. 7 This photograph shows a burning and heavily damaged residential building following a Russian strike in the town of Bilozerske, Donetsk region on August 12, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. AFP via Getty Images Seeking Trump's ear before the summit Trump has said he wants to see whether Putin is serious about ending the war, now in its fourth year. The US president has disappointed allies in Europe by saying Ukraine will have to give up some Russian-held territory. He also said Russia must accept land swaps, although it was unclear what Putin might be expected to surrender. The Europeans and Ukraine are wary that Putin, who has waged the biggest land war in Europe since 1945 and used Russia's energy might to try to intimidate the EU, might secure favorable concessions and set the outlines of a peace deal without them. Referring to the format for ceasefire talks, Zelensky said on Tuesday that the US proposed a bilateral meeting, between the US and Russia, and then a trilateral meeting that would include Ukraine. Zelensky said the presence of Europe was important for Kyiv because these were the only partners offering security guarantees, including funding the Ukrainian army. 7 Russian President Vladimir Putin during a meeting with permanent members of the Security Council. European countries' overarching fear is that Putin will set his sights on one of them next if he wins in Ukraine. Their leaders said Tuesday they 'welcome the efforts of President Trump towards ending Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.' But, they underlined, 'the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine' and 'international borders must not be changed by force.' The Europeans on Wednesday will make a fresh attempt to rally Trump to Ukraine's cause at virtual meetings convened by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Trump did not confirm whether he would take part but did say 'I'm going to get everybody's ideas' before meeting with Putin. Russia holds shaky control over four of the country's regions, two in the country's east and two in the south. 7 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends the Ukrainian Youth Forum 2025. Ukrinform/Shutterstock Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the chief of Zelensky's office, said anything short of Russia's strategic defeat would mean that any ceasefire deal would be on Moscow's terms, erode international law and send a dangerous signal to the world. A 'profoundly alarming moment for Europe' Trump's seemingly public rehabilitation of Putin — a pariah in most of Europe — has unnerved Ukraine's backers. The summit in Alaska is a 'profoundly alarming moment for Europe,' said Nigel Gould-Davies, senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London. According to Gould-Davies, Putin might persuade Trump to try to end the war by 'accepting Russian sovereignty' over parts of Ukraine, even beyond areas that it currently occupies. Trump also could ease or lift sanctions which are causing 'chronic pain' to the Russian economy. That would provoke a 'really serious split in the transatlantic alliance,' he said. 7 Residents carry sheets of plywood to cover broken windows in a heavily damaged residential building following a Russian strike in the town of Bilozerske, Donetsk region on August 12, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. AFP via Getty Images The war isn't about Russia's territorial expansion but about Putin's goal of subordinating Ukraine, which would create the opportunity to threaten other parts of Europe, Gould-Davies said. It was unclear whether the Europeans also were unsettled by Trump mistakenly saying twice he would be traveling to Russia on Friday to meet Putin. The summit is taking place in the US state of Alaska, which was colonized by Russia in the 18th century until Czar Alexander II sold it to the US in 1867. Tuesday's European joint statement was meant to be a demonstration of unity. But Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who is Putin's closest ally in Europe and has tried to block EU support for Ukraine, was the only one of the bloc's 27 leaders who refused to endorse it. Russia closes in on Pokrovsk Russia appeared closer to taking an important city in the Donetsk region, Pokrovsk. Start your day with all you need to know Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more. Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters Military analysts using open-source information to monitor the battles said the next 24-48 hours could be critical. Losing Pokrovsk would hand Russia an important victory ahead of the summit. It also would complicate Ukrainian supply lines to the Donetsk region, where the Kremlin has focused the bulk of military efforts. 7 A woman walks past a heavily damaged residential building following a Russian strike in the town of Bilozerske, Donetsk region on August 12, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. AFP via Getty Images 'A lot will depend on availability, quantity and quality of Ukrainian reserves,' Pasi Paroinen, an analyst with the Finland-based Black Bird Group, wrote on social media late Monday. Ukraine's military said its forces are fending off Russian infantry units trying to infiltrate their defensive positions in the Donetsk region. The region's Ukrainian military command on social media Monday acknowledged that the situation remains 'difficult, unpleasant and dynamic.' Elsewhere in Ukraine, a Russian missile attack on a military training facility left one soldier dead and 11 others wounded, the Ukrainian Ground Forces posted on social media.
UPI
an hour ago
- UPI
Texas files motion against O'Rourke in fight over redistricting maps
Texas on Tuesday filed a contempt motion against Beto O'Rourke, alleging he is violating a court order by continuing to fundraise for state legislators who fled the Lone Star State earlier this month. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Texas filed a motion for contempt Tuesday against Beto O'Rourke, accusing him of violating a temporary restraining order barring him from fundraising for Democratic lawmakers who fled the state earlier this month amid a deepening fight with Republicans over redistricting maps. In the motion, filed in the District Court for Tarrant County, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton alleges that O'Rourke -- a former U.S. House legislator and potential Democratic presidential candidate -- violated a court order that was handed down Friday by continuing to solicit donations for Texas Democrats through the Democratic Party's ActBlue fundraising arm, specifically at rallies in Fort Worth and Abilene that were held over the weekend and online. "Beto is about to find out that running your mouth and ignoring the rule of law has consequences in Texas," Paxton said on X. "It's time to lock him up." Democrats have come out in force since their Texas colleagues fled the state earlier this month to deny Republicans a quorum to pass redistricting maps that would give the GOP five additional seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Critics and Democrats argue that the maps draw lines that dilute the voting power of Latino and Black people, while serving as a power grab by President Donald Trump through rigging the GOP representation in the House ahead of next year's midterm elections. Usually, redistricting occurs once a decade with the publishing of U.S. Census Bureau data. O'Rourke has been at the forefront of the effort to support Texas Democrats and a target of Paxton, who, on Friday, secured a temporary restraining order barring his fellow Texan from soliciting donations for nonpolitical purposes, including to fund "out-of-state travel, hotel or dining accommodations or services to unexcused Texas legislators during any special legislative session called by the Texas governor." The motion filed Tuesday centers mainly on social media posts by O'Rourke that encourage people to donate "to have the backs of our Texas Democrats in this fight," and the two rallies held over the weekend, specifically the Saturday event in Fort Worth, where Paxton in the motion quotes the Democrat as having said, "There are no refs in this game. [expletive] the rules," seemingly to suggest he was openly flouting the court order. O'Rourke responded to the lawsuit by accusing Paxton of purposefully misusing his words in a social media post, that included a clip from the rally the attorney general quoted him from. The clip shows O'Rourke speaking about encouraging all Democratic-led states to redraw their maps as Texas has to "maximize Democratic Party advantage" because "there are no refs in this game." In the Tuesday response, O'Rourke said Paxton was "lying to try to silence us." "We alerted the court that the AG's office blatantly lied in its filing," he said in a post on X. "We're seeking maximum sanctions in response to his abuse of office." If the court finds O'Rourke in violation of the temporary restraining order, it could fine him up to $500 and jail him for up to six months. The next hearing in the case has been scheduled for Aug. 19. The filing comes the same day the Texas Senate approved the controversial redistricting map 19-2 along party lines, with nine of the 11 Democrats walking out before the vote in protest.
