A Democratic lawmaker blasted a Republican colleague for appearing to fall asleep during an overnight hearing on President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful" tax cut and spending bill.
"Rep. Ralph Norman, is ripping health care away from 13 million Americans not exciting enough to stay awake?" said Teresa Leger Fernandez in a post on social media.
.@RepRalphNorman is ripping health care away from 13 million Americans not exciting enough to stay awake? pic.twitter.com/fjQGyzgI14
— Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (@RepTeresaLF) May 21, 2025
The post was uploaded at about 3 a.m., local time, as the hearing continued. It started at 1 a.m., with Republicans hoping to advance it to force a vote as soon as Wednesday.
Health groups are warning that the bill proposes a $880 billion cut that could leave some 13 million Americans without health insurance, The Guardian reported.
Trump has claimed that the cuts won't touch Medicaid, and Republican lawmakers said that the initiative would mostly impact people who are able and should be employed. However, CNN detailed that children, people with disabilities and senior citizens would be impacted if the bill passes.
The outlet added that hospitals would also be impacted, as cutbacks could lead them to raise rates for those who have job-based insurance or directly close their doors, unable to fund their operations.
During her time before the mic, Rep. Leger Fernandez said the country is going through a "nightmare... if you are a veteran, a pregnant mother, live in rural America."
We’re living through a reverse Robin Hood nightmare… pic.twitter.com/leBurmpP90
— Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (@RepTeresaLF) May 21, 2025
"Because this bill that they are going to be pushing through in the dead of the night is the biggest transfer of wealth from the poor, working families and middle class to the wealthiest."
Overall, cuts to Medicaid, food stamps, education and subsidies for clean energy would offset part of the price of the bill, though they would not cover the entire cost of $3.8 trillion over 10 years.
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