Beshear, other Kentucky leaders react to passage of Trump’s ‘big beautiful bill’

FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) — Kentucky leaders from both sides of the aisle are speaking out following the passage of Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” which has led to mixed input from Democrats and Republicans.

Kentucky Democratic Party Chair Colmon Elridge said in a news release on Thursday that the budget kicks hundreds of thousands of state residents off of Medicaid, forcing families to seek care out of their communities.

“Our Commonwealth will lose more than $12.3 billion in rural health care funding — more than any other state—shutting down as many as 35 rural hospitals and firing 20,000 health care workers,” Elridge said. “The long-term outcome of the GOP’s gross betrayal is an indefensible truth: rural clinics, hospitals, nursing homes and addiction recovery programs will disappear outside of big cities and Kentuckians who would otherwise have health care will lead shorter, sicker lives.”

Congressman Harold Rogers reportedly voted in support of the Big Beautiful Bill, saying the budget prevented a 25% tax hike for Kentuckians and would provide up to a $10,600 increase in take-home pay.

“Our country will be safe again, as this bill secures our borders by equipping border patrol and I.C.E. agents with the tools necessary to crack down on drug cartels and dangerous illegal immigrants,” Rogers wrote in a news release on Thursday. “It funds the U.S. Golden Dome missile defense system and modernizes our military. Air travel will also be safer as a result of the bill and the investments it makes in air traffic control improvements.” 

Gov. Beshear said Kentucky deserved better.

“The passage of the ‘big, ugly bill’ marks a sad day for our country and commonwealth,” Beshear posted on Facebook around 2:30 p.m. on Thursday. “This bill risks 200,000 Kentuckians’ lives, the jobs of 20,000 health-care workers, 35 rural hospitals and our economy.”

Trump’s bill passed in the House of Representatives on May 22 before passing in the Senate on July 1. Trump will reportedly sign the bill into law on Friday.

The Big Beautiful Bill can be viewed in full here.