Republicans showcase their ‘big beautiful bill’ to voters, but the law’s impact has been mixed

WASHINGTON (AP):- Working to keep the majority in Congress, Republicans at the midterm convention in Dallas are showcasing their chief legislative accomplishment — the sweeping package of tax breaks, social service cuts and immigration enforcement that President Donald Trump signed into law.

A year on, what’s known as the One Big Beautiful Bill — or, the “Big Ugly Bill,” as Democrats call it — has produced mixed results. Millions of people have received enhanced tax breaks, while millions are also losing access to federal food aid and health care. More immigrants are being arrested, many deported, some dying during the process.

House Speaker Mike Johnson calls it the kind of “common sense” governing that Republicans plan to do more of, if voters return them to power.

“Shamefully, not one Democrat voted for it,” Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., said Wednesday during the convention’s opening night.

Here’s a look at what the big bill has accomplished, over the objections of Democrats.

Millions of taxpayers enjoyed tax benefits this year they might not even realize they received — the continuation of policies from Trump’s first term, in 2017, that were set to expire at the end of 2025 if Congress had failed to act.

The legislation extended those Trump tax breaks and added new ones, including no taxes on tips, overtime pay and certain auto loan interest payments. There’s a larger standard deduction, a bigger child tax credit and an extra deduction for many seniors, as well as new Trump accounts for children.