Coffee & Writing

(LONG VERSION)

There is a shorter version of this blog post.

With the recent passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), there were some cuts in there that seemed regressive to me. This blog is not meant to be a political argument, just a statement of curiosity.

In February, 47 made a White House Faith Office, so there will be many Biblical references because it seems curious that many things in the OBBBA are in direct conflict with the Bible. He said at the National Prayer Breakfast, “He told lawmakers there that his relationship with religion had ‘changed’ after a pair of failed assassination attempts last year and urged Americans to ‘bring God back’ into their lives.” (PBS News, “Trump signs executive order to establish a White House Faith Office“)

It seems like we have been conditioned to believe that pro-life only refers to the abortion issue. However, in chapter ten, verse ten of the Book of John, it’s written:

A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

By Jesus saying that he came for people to “have life and have it more abundantly,” isn’t that expanding the definition of pro-life to more than just abortion?

It seems like pro-life goes beyond protecting an unborn child. I am going to focus on three issues from the OBBBA.

These are the new restrictions on what the OBBBA has to say on Medicaid, according to the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy in the article “One Big Beautiful Bill Act: Winners and Losers in the Medicaid Provisions“.

1.) “7.8 million Americans who CBO [Congressional Budget Office] projects will become uninsured as a result of the bill’s Medicaid provisions.”

2.) “4.8 million—are estimated to be low-income adults without dependents who do not meet the work reporting requirements that the bill imposes upon expansion states”

3.) “2.2 million are projected to become uninsured because of other Medicaid provisions in the bill, including the requirement that states reverify the eligibility of expansion adults every 6 months”

4.) “many low-income populations are at risk for loss of Medicaid coverage under the bill.  These include:  children and families; women, especially those of reproductive age living in small towns and rural areas;  people with disabilities; low-income seniors on Medicare; veterans; and legal immigrants, including refugees, victims of domestic abuse, and people seeking asylum”

As a side note, while a hospital is legally required to treat someone who is uninsured, it doesn’t mean the patient won’t get a bill.

5.) “The bill imposes work requirements for some able-bodied adults and more frequent eligibility checks.” (CBS News, “Here’s what’s in Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” passed by Congress“)

6.) “The One Big Beautiful Bill removes illegal aliens.” (The White House, “Myth vs. Fact: The One Big Beautiful Bill“)

I have never liked how illegal aliens, even naturalized citizens, or those with green cards are treated in this country. It’s not just a Republican thing but it’s a Democrat thing too.

Going back to the Bible, we need to look at Leviticus 19:33-34.

When an alien resides with you in your land, do not mistreat such a one.

You shall treat the alien who resides with you no differently than the natives born among you; you shall love the alien as yourself; for you too were once aliens in the land of Egypt. I, the LORD, am your God.

Aren’t we all descendents of aliens, some legal, most not, in the United States?

As for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), well, Axios news put it quite succinctly. (“Where SNAP cuts in Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” could hit Americans hardest“)

1.) “Trump’s signature policy bill adjusts work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the country’s largest nutrition assistance program.”

2.) “In order to keep their benefits under the Senate-passed version of the bill, parents of children aged 14 or older would have to meet work requirements. The bill also bumps the work requirement age up to 64.”

3.) “Currently, SNAP’s requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents apply to those between 18 and 54.”

4.) “It could also force some states to shoulder more benefit costs, the rate of which would be set by a state’s percent of erroneous payments. Benefits are currently 100% federally funded, though states share administrative costs.”

So, now the government is asking people to sing for their supper? What about free education to have a better chance at a good job in a competitive job market? People could also work with a case manager or a social worker to help find a job or find a better job or create a resumé where they don’t need to be on food stamps.

When the government invests in a person’s education, they actually come out the winner. The person will pay more taxes, they don’t have to rely on government assistance programs. Fields like medicine and research mean bringing more resources to people and advances in research that come out of the U.S., which means more respect and accolades for the country, if you’re the kind of person who likes to keep score. We could have more teachers, nurses, computer AI techs, plumbers, sales representatives, etc.

What about free school lunches? Well, the School Nutrition Association was not exactly thrilled by what was in the OBBBA.

1.) “Congress has passed the budget reconciliation bill that threatens school meal access for students across the country. “

2.) “Fewer children are automatically eligible for free school meals as families lose SNAP and Medicaid benefits.”

3.) “Increased administrative burdens on schools already struggling with staffing shortages.”

4.) “Students falling through the cracks when forced into complex application processes.”

5.) “Less schools enroll in Community Eligibility Provision, ending free meals for all students.”

“The federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) allows schools in high-poverty areas to offer free school
breakfast and lunch to all students without cumbersome applications. CEP ensures every student is nourished and ready to learn and eliminates stigma and student lunch debt.” (“2025 Position Paper:
Protect CEP; Expand Access to School Meals”)

6.) “States forced to cut school nutrition programs due to budget pressures from federal cost shifts.”

Not getting children the proper nutrition 24/7/365, can be summed up very simply in the book of Matthew.

Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf of bread

or a snake when he asks for a fish?

If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children… (Matthew 7:9-11)

I’m going to alter the ending of that verse, “If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, [then why don’t you]?”

This is the actual end of that trio of verses:

If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him. (Matthew 7:11)

But please keep my altered ending in mind, because it is one to consider.

My adding to the verse is not meant to be blasphemous, cruel, or bait someone into an argument, it’s meant to help you think about what we are doing to our children.

47 was at the March for Life, a first for a president. This puts him squarely in the pro-life column. If we go by what Jesus said in John 10:10, “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly,” then we have to extend the definition of pro-life to every part of a person’s life.

This is not a comment on 47’s actions but according to Wikipedia he had always said his favorite verse of the Bible was personal, then in 2016, he noted that it was the verse about an eye for an eye. There are many reasons good and bad to have this be a favorite verse. I like to think he prefers good reasons to like this verse rather than the negative ones.

One of the reason why I am speaking so deeply of his pro-life beliefs, is that he is very much in favor of capital punishment. The White House even put out a press release outlining the laws of capital punishment, called “Restoring the Death Penalty and Protecting Public Safety“.

If you are pro-life, it doesn’t make sense that you can be pro-capital punishment. At one point the people on death row were in the womb and if you are pro-life you would have protected them at that time. However, you are now cheering on their death? That makes no sense to me.

Just to warn you, my example of a section in OBBBA about murder is rather lengthy and involves the January 6th riots. It is not meant to be a tangent, it’s meant to be factual and show a point., but you’ll have to come on a ride with me.

One of the laws for capital punishment I found most pertinent was in Section 3 part b, “In addition to pursuing the death penalty where possible, the Attorney General shall, where consistent with applicable law, pursue Federal jurisdiction and seek the death penalty regardless of other factors for every federal capital crime involving:

(i)   The murder of a law-enforcement officer”

When 47 pardoned the January 6th rioters, he pardoned many dangerous people, one of whom was recently plotting to assassinate everyone who investigated the January 6th riots against him; however, a close friend caught him on tape admitting to the plot, according to the New York Times.

47 also released murderes, which explicitly goes against, “The murder of a law-enforcement officer.”

Brian Sicknick, a Capitol police officer, died the following day from strokes brought on by the attack. “The coroner commented that ‘all that transpired played a role in his condition.’”

“Four officers, from various police departments, who responded to the attack committed suicide in the days and months that followed. Capitol Police officer Howard Charles Liebengood died by suicide three days after the attack. D.C. Metropolitan Police officer Jeffrey Smith, who was injured in the attack, died by suicide from a gunshot wound to the head at George Washington Memorial Parkway on January 15, after a misdiagnosed concussion; his death was found to be in line of duty. In July, two more officers who responded to the attack died by suicide: Metropolitan Police officer Kyle Hendrik DeFreytag was found on July 10, and Metropolitan Police officer Gunther Paul Hashida was found on July 29.” (Wikipedia, “January 6 United States Capitol attack”)

A handful of rioters were killed as well, and there were injuries on both sides.

“Erin Smith, the widow of Jeffrey Smith [pictured above], was instrumental in the passage of a renewed version of the Public Safety Officer Support Act that President Joe Biden signed into law last August.

The legislation made the families of officers who died by suicide eligible for the federal benefits that go to first responders, so long as their death is found to have been linked to their official duties and exposure to a traumatic event.” (NBC News, “DOJ finds police officer’s suicide after Jan. 6 attack was a death in the line of duty“)

This relates to 47’s law because if Jeffrey Smith’s suicide is considered a death in the line of duty, it would have been worth it to find the perpetrator(s), that injured Officer Smith. The people who attacked him could possible be convicted of murder of a law enforcement officer, just as 47 wrote that the Attorney General should pursue.

In addition, if they looked for the people Officer Sicknick came into contact with, they could be held accountable for his death as well since their actions led to his death.

However, it doesn’t matter because 47 pardoned nearly everyone including Officer Smith and Officer Sicknick’s murderers.

“Some individuals did not receive pardons or had aspects of their cases unresolved:

“Individuals with sentences commuted, not pardoned: The sentences of several individuals, including leaders and members of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys, were commuted, according to a White House statement. A commutation reduces a sentence but does not erase the conviction. 

“Individuals who refused pardons: Pamela Hemphill declined and returned her pardon, believing that those involved had broken the law and should not be pardoned. Jason Riddle also rejected his pardon, stating he was guilty and accepted the consequences. Rebecca Lavrenz, known as the “J6 Praying Grandma,” declined her pardon and planned to appeal her case.

“Individuals with outstanding charges unrelated to January 6th: Jeremy Brown, initially pardoned for January 6th-related charges, faced separate charges (possession of a short-barrel rifle, shotgun, explosive grenades, and willful retention of a national defense document) for which he was sentenced to 87 months in prison, although the Justice Department later reversed its stance on whether the pardon covered these. Andrew Taake, who assaulted police officers on January 6th, was also wanted on unrelated 2016 charges of soliciting a minor online in Texas. David Paul Daniel, while in custody for January 6th charges, had additional charges filed against him for production and possession of child pornography.” (Google Gemini AI Overview)

My question is, why would anyone have pardoned so many people who committed crimes against the country and may even be killers? There were four officers who committed suicide because of January 6, 2021, but I’m willing to bet all of the officers who responded to the insurrection have PTSD and have thought about suicide as well.

Hundreds of officers resigned or retired after the insurrection.

All of this is hardly pro-life. However you believe the January 6th riots started, 47 could have encouraged his supporters to stop and they probably would have listened.

On a different note, many tax payers make the valid argument of when is it that they or the government have given enough for government assistance. People may feel like they are being bled dry. These are all valid and totally understandable concerns.

It’s up to you, how much you want to help the poor and needy; obviously you don’t have a choice with taxes, but I will leave you with some quotes from the Bible that may make you feel better or want to help more.

The poor you will always have with you; but you will not always have me. (Matthew 26:11)

Those who oppress the poor revile their Maker, but those who are kind to the needy honor him. (Proverbs 14:31)

If someone who has worldly means sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion, how can the love of God remain in him? Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth. (1 John 3:17-18)

Miriam Kavanagh