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What is the New "One Big Beautiful Bill?"

Santiago Bel
7/7/25

Last Friday on the 4th of July President Trump made the “One Big Beautiful Bill” official, declaring a fresh start for the U.S. economy. This extensive plan intends to stimulate expansion, value labor, then favor goods created here. Though approved by the House with only a slim margin – 218 to 214 votes – the bill continues previous tax reductions alongside additional advantages for employees, entrepreneurs, also factories. The law lets people lower their taxes by subtracting tip income alongside overtime earnings. It also boosts benefits for businesses manufacturing within the country, additionally offering perks to those working in energy or farming. Supporters - including former leadership - declare this a historic tax reduction; however, opponents fear its price tag will become exceptionally high.

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Whether this new law is a good thing has economists split. Those who favor it believe it will boost the economy through more investing, jobs, alongside better pay. Because making things here costs less, we might depend less on other countries – something a former candidate often talked about. This legislation offers tax breaks to farmers likewise local companies - a bid for support from rural voters plus a promise of renewed factory work in areas struggling with global trade shifts. Despite assurances from the administration that economic expansion will offset expenses, experts predict the bill will swell the national debt by several trillion dollars within ten years. Officials at the CBO caution ongoing deficits might drive up interest rates, meaning pricier loans for everyone.

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Markets wobbled a bit. Shares first rose when the law was approved - people thought companies would earn more, also that shoppers would spend again. However, borrowing costs increased too, suggesting worries about prices going up and whether this can continue. Should the government borrow more money even as the Federal Reserve tries to cool things down with higher interest rates, private businesses might pull back on their own investments – quite unlike the goal of this legislation. We’ve seen this before; think back to the early eighties when Reagan cut taxes hoping for economic lift, yet growing deficits drove up interest rates instead. Something comparable may happen now should leaders get the mix between boosting the economy and holding back spending wrong.

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How this law plays out for people hinges on what they earn and do for a living. Those working in service jobs, likewise those running smaller companies, might get a little help through tax cuts alongside boosts for job creation. Folks with significant assets - investments linked to how stocks are doing - could gain when corporations pay less in taxes, resulting in bigger payouts. The proposed law cuts back aid for those in need, also putting a brake on how quickly healthcare assistance expands – a move some worry will hurt vulnerable families. Experts point out that when money is tight for many, they use nearly everything they earn; therefore, less help might mean people buy fewer things, despite wealthier individuals increasing their purchases.

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This bill is essentially a wager: lower taxes alongside fewer rules are expected to deliver more benefit than potential price increases or growing debts. Supporters picture a snowball effect of growth, yet opponents worry about an economy spinning out of control – one where the gap between rich and poor widens. This law, arriving early in the president’s next four years, could well be remembered as his main economic achievement. If it sparks lasting growth - or if instead it merely offers a quick lift before problems resurface - rests on what companies, people, and international trade do going forward.

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2025 Holmdel Journal For Applied Economics
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