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Vice President JD Vance said on Monday that Democrats — and a handful of Republicans — who opposed President Donald Trump’s “one big, beautiful bill” should face political consequences as the 2026 midterm elections approach.
The bill, signed into law by Trump on July 4, makes permanent key provisions from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, including individual and business tax breaks. It also introduces new deductions aimed at lowering taxes on tips and overtime pay.
“Anybody who voted against it, I think they ought to pay a penalty,” Vance said during a visit to Canton, Ohio. “Because they voted against all those great things for the people of Akron and the people of Northeastern Ohio.”
Vance criticized Democrats for not participating in the legislative process. “The craziest thing is if you’re a Democrat and you don’t like this legislation, then come and talk to us,” he said. “Make some proposed changes. Tell us ‘You know, this provision isn’t so good. We’d like to change it a little bit, and if we change it, then I can get to yes.’ This is the process of government. And these guys didn’t even come to the White House and try to make their concerns known. They didn’t try to make the legislation better. They just attack, attack, attack.”
He went on to accuse Democrats of focusing more on border issues and opposing Trump than on the needs of working Americans. “Their obsession in government is letting illegal aliens into this country, and attacking Donald J. Trump,” Vance said. “I don’t think the American people should reward that broken style of politics, and I don’t think they’re going to come November 2026.”
Vance has been touring swing districts to promote the bill and support vulnerable Republican incumbents. He visited Pennsylvania’s 8th District earlier in July to back Rep. Rob Bresnahan and is scheduled to appear at Republican National Committee fundraisers in Wyoming and Montana.
Among the Ohio lawmakers who voted against the bill was Rep. Emilia Sykes, who narrowly won reelection in 2024 and represents Canton. A spokesperson for Vance doubled down on his remarks, citing a Wall Street Journal poll showing Democrats with a 33% approval rating — the party’s lowest since 1990.
“The Democrats just hit their lowest approval rating in 35 years, and all they can do is distract voters from the enormous wins the Trump administration is racking up,” the spokesperson said. “Voters are sick of Democrat politicians constantly blowing hot air. Meanwhile, the vice president is visiting contested House districts around the country selling the substantive provisions in the president’s landmark One Big Beautiful Bill.”
Despite the White House push, a recent Fox News poll found that 58% of registered voters oppose the bill, while 39% support it.
No Democrats supported the legislation, along with five Republicans: Sens. Susan Collins, Thom Tillis, and Rand Paul, and Reps. Thomas Massie and Brian Fitzpatrick.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries denounced the bill as “cruel” during lengthy floor remarks, specifically criticizing changes to Medicaid and SNAP that could remove millions from public assistance. “What is contemplated in this one big, ugly bill is wrong. It’s dangerous, and it’s cruel, and cruelty should not be either the objective or the outcome of legislation that we consider here in the United States House of Representatives,” Jeffries said.
