Nebraska For Us, experts hold town hall on impact of Republican Tax Law Bacon voted for

Local coalition condemns Rep. Don Bacon’s vote to cut health care, SNAP to pay for tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy

OMAHA, Nebraska (August 1, 2025)—Nebraska For Us and a panel of experts welcomed dozens of community members for a wide-ranging, in-person town hall to discuss the impacts of the Republican Tax Law that Congressman Don Bacon voted for in early July. From health care  to SNAP, the drastic cuts will hurt Nebraskans across the state—forcing them to pay higher prices with less help and destabilizing an already fragile health care system. Congressman Bacon’s office was invited to attend but declined.

“Medicaid cuts are going to be disastrous, not just at the federal level but here in Nebraska, too,” retired Assistant Surgeon General Dr. Ali Khan said. “110,000 Nebraskans will lose health care, including 53,000 children. It will also lead to thousands of lost jobs and impact the broader state economy. On top of that, it is perplexing to see a cancellation in NIH grants and funding in addition to the loss of research and development opportunities. These impacts are not just immediate and will be felt for the long term.”

In Nebraska, Gov. Jim Pillen is seeking $500 million in cuts across state government while revenues already came $86 million short of expectations for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. With these cuts in addition to cost-sharing responsibilities falling on the states as a result of the Republican Tax Law, state senators on the panel expressed their deep concerns about what will come next.

“It is mindblowing to me how we are really going to balance this all at the state level,” District 5 State Senator Margo Juarez said. “I think it is going to impact all of us in some way. At the federal level, they have given tax breaks to the rich and have working people foot the bill. It is scary to consider the impact of these cuts on Nebraskans.”

“There are many misconceptions out there related to programs like Medicaid and SNAP, and it is important for us to ensure the public knows the truth,” District 3 State Senator Victor Rountree said. “What we have found is that whatever the governor wants is what many of our colleagues will do. That is the same process happening at the federal level. We have our separate branches of government, and we need to have our own ideas.”

While Medicaid and SNAP are the primary focus, there are a host of tax credits that were cut by the Republican Tax Plan to pay for billionaire tax breaks.

“We got hoodwinked on this tax bill because Republicans, including Congressman Bacon, claimed to support energy tax credits for working people and instead repealed them,” IBEW Local 22 Business Representative Jon Nebel said. “These cuts are really impacting programs that are designed to help our fellow Nebraskans.”

“These are conversations we need to be having face-to-face, not in virtual town halls,” Nebraska For Us State Director Angie Lauritsen said. “People are worried about what the Republican Tax Law will do, and we are disappointed that Congressman Bacon’s office opted not to meet with members of the public at our forum. We will remain in the community, finding opportunities to host in-person discussions.”