The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” passed in the Senate by one vote on July 1. In its original form, the bill was also passed in the House of Representatives by a single vote.

Maine Senator Susan Collins, Senator Angus King, U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree, and U.S. Representative Jared Golden all voted against the bill. Collins was one of three Senate Republicans to oppose the legislation. 

“I am pleased the bill contains a special fund that I proposed to provide some assistance to our rural hospitals, but it is not sufficient to offset the other changes in the Medicaid system,” said Collins, according to CBS-13. Collins proposed increasing the amount in the fund, but the motion did not pass. 

Senator Angus King said, “I think this is the worst, most regressive, and harmful piece of legislation I’ve ever seen.” King also said the bill will have “catastrophic” impacts on Maine people. 

The office of Angus King noted that, if passed, the bill would result in 11.8 million Americans losing health care over the next 10 years. In addition, estimates show four rural Maine hospitals closing in a 10-year period and 31,000 Maine people losing MaineCare in the bill’s first year. 

“Maine deserves better than a Congress that takes away their health care,” said Jared Golden.

Also controversial among Maine lawmakers is the increase in debt. The proposed bill includes an estimated $3.3 trillion added to the national budget deficit over the next 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. 

“They’re not doing anything to reduce the deficit, and this is all being done to give tax breaks to some of the wealthiest people in our country and wealthy corporations,” said Chellie Pingree. 

The bill, which was restructured by the Senate, is currently back in the House of Representatives. The Trump administration’s original goal was to pass the bill by July 4.