Wesley Tharpe
@wesleytharpe.bsky.social
Senior Advisor for State Tax Policy @centeronbudget.bsky.social. Formerly @gabudget.bsky.social. I've been called the emerging tax cut conscience of a nation. Mostly music, memes, West Wing, and the open road beyond that.
Pinned
NEW REPORT: House Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill, now in the Senate, would shift major new costs to the state- & local-level, paving the way for harmful cuts to food assistance, health care, & other services like education. Here’s the 3 top things to know:🧵
Reposted by Wesley Tharpe
With a huge unfunded mandate for #SNAP food benefits one step closer to becoming law, don't lose sight of the painful tradeoffs states will be facing: Do they raise taxes? Cut state funding for other vital services? Slash the number of eligible low-income people receiving food assistance?
States still stand to lose big under the now-passed Senate R reconciliation plan, w/ major new costs forcing likely cuts to health care, food benefits, & other S&L priorities. Just the #SNAP cost-shift alone will force painful choices. At the 15% maximum state rate, for ex⬇️
Senate Rs voted to pass a bill that wld raise food & health care costs on families, increase hunger & take health coverage away from millions of ppl while doubling down on tax cuts for the wealthy. House Rs must stand up for their communities & reject it. www.cbpp.org/press/statem...
July 1, 2025 at 9:48 PM
With a huge unfunded mandate for #SNAP food benefits one step closer to becoming law, don't lose sight of the painful tradeoffs states will be facing: Do they raise taxes? Cut state funding for other vital services? Slash the number of eligible low-income people receiving food assistance?
States still stand to lose big under the now-passed Senate R reconciliation plan, w/ major new costs forcing likely cuts to health care, food benefits, & other S&L priorities. Just the #SNAP cost-shift alone will force painful choices. At the 15% maximum state rate, for ex⬇️
Senate Rs voted to pass a bill that wld raise food & health care costs on families, increase hunger & take health coverage away from millions of ppl while doubling down on tax cuts for the wealthy. House Rs must stand up for their communities & reject it. www.cbpp.org/press/statem...
House Should Reject Senate Republican Bill That Is Even Worse Than Already Harmful House Version in Important Ways | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Following a series of middle-of-the-night backroom deals, and less than an hour after the final language was unveiled, Senate Republicans voted to pass a bill that would raise food and health care cos...
www.cbpp.org
July 1, 2025 at 9:44 PM
States still stand to lose big under the now-passed Senate R reconciliation plan, w/ major new costs forcing likely cuts to health care, food benefits, & other S&L priorities. Just the #SNAP cost-shift alone will force painful choices. At the 15% maximum state rate, for ex⬇️
Reposted by Wesley Tharpe
Based on new USDA data released today, 44 states would have to pay tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars under Senate Republicans' #SNAP cost-shift plan. If a state can't fully pay, they would have to cut many low-income families off SNAP or end their program altogether.
June 30, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Based on new USDA data released today, 44 states would have to pay tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars under Senate Republicans' #SNAP cost-shift plan. If a state can't fully pay, they would have to cut many low-income families off SNAP or end their program altogether.
It shocks the conscience.
"It shocks the conscience that Senate Republican leaders saw the impacts of the House bill — 16 million more people uninsured and millions losing help buying groceries, including families with children — and chose to double down." -
@sharonparrott.bsky.social www.cbpp.org/press/statem...
@sharonparrott.bsky.social www.cbpp.org/press/statem...
June 28, 2025 at 10:31 PM
It shocks the conscience.
Reposted by Wesley Tharpe
The truth is clear — the Senate Republican reconciliation bill will hurt people in every state if enacted. Senators who vote for it are responsible for its impact ⬇️
June 28, 2025 at 6:31 PM
The truth is clear — the Senate Republican reconciliation bill will hurt people in every state if enacted. Senators who vote for it are responsible for its impact ⬇️
Reposted by Wesley Tharpe
"We fear that if this bill passes, a village in rural Alaska might lose its one-and-only grocery store because of a drastic decline in SNAP dollars. It might also lose its sole health care clinic or hospital because it cannot sustain its services with decreased Medicaid reimbursements."
“The likely impacts from the ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ are particularly ugly for our home state, Alaska,” write Bryce Edgmon and Cathy Giessel, two state lawmakers. “The bill being rushed through Congress is based on a one-size-fits-all approach that does not reflect these realities on the ground.”
Opinion | The Big Beautiful Bill Will Be Ugly for Alaska
Congress’s one-size-fits-all bill doesn’t take into account the realities of life in Alaska.
www.nytimes.com
June 27, 2025 at 3:17 PM
"We fear that if this bill passes, a village in rural Alaska might lose its one-and-only grocery store because of a drastic decline in SNAP dollars. It might also lose its sole health care clinic or hospital because it cannot sustain its services with decreased Medicaid reimbursements."
Reposted by Wesley Tharpe
The national school voucher proposal in the Senate GOP reconciliation plan would threaten students’ access to quality public schools, give tax breaks to the wealthy, & override states that have rejected these harmful policies. Lawmakers who care about our kids’ futures should reject it.
June 26, 2025 at 2:58 PM
The national school voucher proposal in the Senate GOP reconciliation plan would threaten students’ access to quality public schools, give tax breaks to the wealthy, & override states that have rejected these harmful policies. Lawmakers who care about our kids’ futures should reject it.
Senate & House Rs are rushing a massive reconciliation plan that promises widespread harm to people & communities in *every state*, partly thru shifting major costs states simply can't afford. Fresh out from us today is more state-by-state context on the potential pinch. www.cbpp.org/research/sta...
Roundup: State Budgets Increasingly Strained as House, Senate Republican Plans Would Impose Major Costs | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Senate and House Republican leaders are advancing a massive tax and budget package — a process technically known as reconciliation — that features extreme cuts to food assistance and health care...
www.cbpp.org
June 25, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Senate & House Rs are rushing a massive reconciliation plan that promises widespread harm to people & communities in *every state*, partly thru shifting major costs states simply can't afford. Fresh out from us today is more state-by-state context on the potential pinch. www.cbpp.org/research/sta...
Reposted by Wesley Tharpe
There is confusion about whether the Parliamentarian has indicated that a slightly revised version of the #SNAP cost-shift to states in the Senate Republican bill complies with the Byrd rule. But what’s clear is: the provision’s harmful impact is unchanged.
June 24, 2025 at 9:23 PM
There is confusion about whether the Parliamentarian has indicated that a slightly revised version of the #SNAP cost-shift to states in the Senate Republican bill complies with the Byrd rule. But what’s clear is: the provision’s harmful impact is unchanged.
Reposted by Wesley Tharpe
This suggests that Republicans may add yet another deeply harmful health care cut to the Senate bill – a cut that would take health coverage away from even more people, shift massive, unaffordable costs to states, & could even lead some states to end their #Medicaid expansion.
Scoop: Senate Republicans are considering a new provision that would further cut Medicaid funding in the OBBB
www.statnews.com/2025/06/23/g...
www.statnews.com/2025/06/23/g...
Senate Republicans discuss new way to cut Medicaid in Trump’s tax bill
The proposal would sharply limit federal spending on the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion.
www.statnews.com
June 23, 2025 at 5:53 PM
This suggests that Republicans may add yet another deeply harmful health care cut to the Senate bill – a cut that would take health coverage away from even more people, shift massive, unaffordable costs to states, & could even lead some states to end their #Medicaid expansion.
Reposted by Wesley Tharpe
The Senate Republican leadership’s reconciliation proposal would take health coverage away from millions of people and dramatically raise health care costs for millions more. Here's our recap, including an overview of the damaging #Medicaid cuts: www.cbpp.org/research/hea...
By the Numbers: Senate Republican Leadership’s Health Agenda Takes Health Coverage Away From Millions of People and Raises Families’ Costs | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
The Senate Republican leadership’s reconciliation proposal would take health coverage away from millions of people and dramatically raise health care costs for millions more.
www.cbpp.org
June 20, 2025 at 3:41 PM
The Senate Republican leadership’s reconciliation proposal would take health coverage away from millions of people and dramatically raise health care costs for millions more. Here's our recap, including an overview of the damaging #Medicaid cuts: www.cbpp.org/research/hea...
Reposted by Wesley Tharpe
It shocks the conscience that Senate Republican leaders saw the impacts of the House bill — 16 million more people uninsured and millions losing help buying groceries, including families with children — and chose to double down.
June 17, 2025 at 12:21 AM
It shocks the conscience that Senate Republican leaders saw the impacts of the House bill — 16 million more people uninsured and millions losing help buying groceries, including families with children — and chose to double down.
Reposted by Wesley Tharpe
Questions to ask about the House R plan:
Is my state raising taxes to make up for these huge federal cuts?
Is my state cutting other services (schools, child care, etc.) to fill that funding gap?
If my state can't make up the federal cuts, whose food assistance or health care is getting taken away?
Is my state raising taxes to make up for these huge federal cuts?
Is my state cutting other services (schools, child care, etc.) to fill that funding gap?
If my state can't make up the federal cuts, whose food assistance or health care is getting taken away?
Tldr: the enormous cuts passed by House Republicans, which not-for-nothing coincide with massive new tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans, would force states to pick up billions in new costs & make a series of excruciating tradeoffs. It’s a bad deal the Senate should reject.
June 3, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Questions to ask about the House R plan:
Is my state raising taxes to make up for these huge federal cuts?
Is my state cutting other services (schools, child care, etc.) to fill that funding gap?
If my state can't make up the federal cuts, whose food assistance or health care is getting taken away?
Is my state raising taxes to make up for these huge federal cuts?
Is my state cutting other services (schools, child care, etc.) to fill that funding gap?
If my state can't make up the federal cuts, whose food assistance or health care is getting taken away?
NEW REPORT: House Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill, now in the Senate, would shift major new costs to the state- & local-level, paving the way for harmful cuts to food assistance, health care, & other services like education. Here’s the 3 top things to know:🧵
June 3, 2025 at 7:19 PM
NEW REPORT: House Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill, now in the Senate, would shift major new costs to the state- & local-level, paving the way for harmful cuts to food assistance, health care, & other services like education. Here’s the 3 top things to know:🧵
Reposted by Wesley Tharpe
The bond downgrade specifically mentioned this bill as one of the reasons.
Scalise: "This bond downgrade is another serious blow that shows that America needs to get its fiscal house in order. We start to do that in this bill." (Spoke on CNBC this AM.)
This bill is projected to add to the debt.
This bill is projected to add to the debt.
May 19, 2025 at 12:11 PM
The bond downgrade specifically mentioned this bill as one of the reasons.
Reposted by Wesley Tharpe
What else would you expect from a plan that takes away health care, cuts food assistance, dismantles progress on climate change, and increases the cost of college all to give the very rich big tax cuts.
May 17, 2025 at 1:43 PM
What else would you expect from a plan that takes away health care, cuts food assistance, dismantles progress on climate change, and increases the cost of college all to give the very rich big tax cuts.
House Republicans "want to shift blame for the cuts to states, but the blame game won’t matter to children, families, seniors, people with disabilities, veterans, small business owners, and others when they are hungry and can’t afford food."
As House Republicans work to advance their bill to the floor, their agenda couldn’t be clearer: stripping health care & food assistance away from millions & raising families’ costs— while showering ever larger tax breaks on the wealthiest.
My statement: www.cbpp.org/press/statem...
My statement: www.cbpp.org/press/statem...
House Republicans’ Shockingly Harmful Agenda Is Now Crystal Clear – the Country Deserves Better | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Their agenda couldn’t be clearer: stripping health care and food assistance away from millions of people and raising families’ costs, breaking their promises to help people on the margins of the econo...
www.cbpp.org
May 16, 2025 at 4:34 PM
House Republicans "want to shift blame for the cuts to states, but the blame game won’t matter to children, families, seniors, people with disabilities, veterans, small business owners, and others when they are hungry and can’t afford food."
Reposted by Wesley Tharpe
Iowa’s already tapping surpluses — to the tune of $900 million — to balance next year’s budget!
And if they succeed, then widespread cuts to health care, food assistance, S&L services like schools & roads & any number of things that workers & families count on everyday will follow.
NEW: President Trump and congressional Republicans are looking to push off the costs of many federal programs to states, as they scramble for ways to pay for their expensive tax cuts.
States say their budgets already are in trouble
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/13/u...
States say their budgets already are in trouble
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/13/u...
May 15, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Iowa’s already tapping surpluses — to the tune of $900 million — to balance next year’s budget!
Reposted by Wesley Tharpe
New from me: The House GOP moved ahead with its plans to slash SNAP spending in the sneakiest way possible. By shifting costs to states but delaying it until after the midterms, they’re hoping to get credit for cutting spending with none of the backlash
Opinion | The GOP wants to cut SNAP benefits in a most cowardly way
The House Agriculture Committee approved $300 billion in cuts to SNAP benefits in order to pay for a massive tax cut for the wealthy.
www.msnbc.com
May 15, 2025 at 12:53 PM
New from me: The House GOP moved ahead with its plans to slash SNAP spending in the sneakiest way possible. By shifting costs to states but delaying it until after the midterms, they’re hoping to get credit for cutting spending with none of the backlash
And if they succeed, then widespread cuts to health care, food assistance, S&L services like schools & roads & any number of things that workers & families count on everyday will follow.
NEW: President Trump and congressional Republicans are looking to push off the costs of many federal programs to states, as they scramble for ways to pay for their expensive tax cuts.
States say their budgets already are in trouble
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/13/u...
States say their budgets already are in trouble
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/13/u...
Chasing Tax Cuts, Trump and Republicans Want to Make States Pay
www.nytimes.com
May 15, 2025 at 2:26 PM
And if they succeed, then widespread cuts to health care, food assistance, S&L services like schools & roads & any number of things that workers & families count on everyday will follow.
And what could the Republican #SNAP cuts cost in your state? We've got the new data for that: www.cbpp.org/research/foo...
The biggest & most direct hit to states is thru SNAP. The GOP plan would upend a 50 year commitment to federal funding for food benefits, forcing states for the first time to pick up between 5 and 25 percent of their costs. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Proposed GOP cuts could jeopardize SNAP users, farmers and state budgets
States will likely serve fewer people in need of food assistance, experts say, as Congress says it’s rooting out waste to meet spending-reduction goals for tax cuts.
www.washingtonpost.com
May 13, 2025 at 10:33 PM
And what could the Republican #SNAP cuts cost in your state? We've got the new data for that: www.cbpp.org/research/foo...
House Republicans’ new budget bills promise widespread harm to people & communities in every state across the U.S. One way they seek to hide these harmful impacts is by slashing federal funding & then passing the buck to state & local gov’ts to make the toughest choices & cuts.🧵
May 13, 2025 at 9:06 PM
House Republicans’ new budget bills promise widespread harm to people & communities in every state across the U.S. One way they seek to hide these harmful impacts is by slashing federal funding & then passing the buck to state & local gov’ts to make the toughest choices & cuts.🧵
Reposted by Wesley Tharpe
A $370 billion cut to Medicaid wouldn't go toward deficit reduction--it would finance the $350 billion tax break for millionaire owners of pass-through businesses that would go into the same freaking bill.
Reporting suggests some House Rs who say they oppose #Medicaid cuts may support provisions that would cut Medicaid by ~$370B dollars. These provisions are indeed cuts that wld take coverage away from potentially millions of eligible ppl who need coverage. www.politico.com/news/2025/04...
The GOP plan to fund Trump’s agenda is running into a major roadblock: Trump
House Republicans are relying on deep cuts to the safety-net health program to finance their megabill. But the president is deeply wary.
www.politico.com
May 1, 2025 at 8:23 PM
A $370 billion cut to Medicaid wouldn't go toward deficit reduction--it would finance the $350 billion tax break for millionaire owners of pass-through businesses that would go into the same freaking bill.
Reposted by Wesley Tharpe
Most state taxes already ask more of lower earners than the wealthy. That trend only accelerated in this year’s legislative sessions, worrying advocates who want to see the rich pay a larger share.
stateline.org/2025/04/29/n...
stateline.org/2025/04/29/n...
New tax cuts mostly favor the rich across states this year • Stateline
Missouri Republicans may take their tax-cutting efforts to new heights this year as lawmakers consider exempting profits from the sale of stocks, bonds and real estate from state income taxes.
stateline.org
April 29, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Most state taxes already ask more of lower earners than the wealthy. That trend only accelerated in this year’s legislative sessions, worrying advocates who want to see the rich pay a larger share.
stateline.org/2025/04/29/n...
stateline.org/2025/04/29/n...
Reposted by Wesley Tharpe
NEW ESTIMATES: The policy reported here—adding a state cost-share for #SNAP that ramps up to 22.5%—would impose $23.65 billion in new costs on states just in the first year it's fully phased in. This would likely lead to deep cuts to food assistance. State numbers in link below⤵️
White House wariness tempers GOP plans to share food-aid spending with states
Concerns are mounting about benefit cuts that could hit President Donald Trump’s own voters.
www.politico.com
April 28, 2025 at 8:39 PM
NEW ESTIMATES: The policy reported here—adding a state cost-share for #SNAP that ramps up to 22.5%—would impose $23.65 billion in new costs on states just in the first year it's fully phased in. This would likely lead to deep cuts to food assistance. State numbers in link below⤵️