Demonstrators met outside Senator John Cornyn's office in Austin Thursday to urge him to vote against the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." They said the bill would hurt low-income Texans to provide tax cuts for the wealthy.
Protesters say 806,000 Texans could lose food assistance entirely and people who earn less than $51,000 a year would see taxes go up while "multi-millionaires get a massive tax cut."
"This is not a third-world country. This is America," one protester said.
"To be clear, the House reconciliation bill funnels money out of essential services for all Americans," another said.
Protesters say the bill would provide tax cuts for the rich while cutting Medicaid. Texas Health and Human Services says four million Texans rely on Medicaid, and 60% of those are kids. The health policy research organization, KFF, says Texas could lose $28 billion in Medicaid funding over ten years if the bill passes.
"Senator Cornyn is following along with the plan to make Texas hungrier, sicker and homeless," one protester said.
In a speech on the Senate floor earlier this month, Cornyn said 62% of Americans would see taxes go up next year without any action. He said the average Texas family would pay an additional $3,000.
Cornyn said work requirements for people receiving federal benefits have a history of bipartisan support.
"Back during President Clinton's presidency, Democrats agreed with Republicans that able-bodied adults who receive government benefits should be required to work," he said.
Cornyn said the Senate's version of the bill includes money to reimburse Texas for money spent on border security during the Biden Administration.
"Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security need additional resources for detention facilities and personnel or else they will run out of money," he said.
Cornyn said the bill offered a "once in a generation opportunity" to cut the national debt at a time when Moody's has downgraded the United States' credit rating.