Letter to the Editor: Why Wyoming should reject the ‘Beautiful Bill’ power grab

Dear Editor,

There’s been a lot of talk lately about President Trump’s so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill.” On the surface, it’s pitched as an economic revival plan, but beneath the slogans lies legislation that closely mirrors Project 2025, a roadmap for aggressively reshaping the federal government and dramatically expanding presidential power.

This bill proposes making the 2017 tax cuts permanent, a move that disproportionately benefits the wealthiest Americans. Analysts estimate the top 1% could gain up to $90,000 annually, while the bottom 20% might see only $90. At the same time, it slashes more than $900 billion from Medicaid, potentially stripping healthcare from 16 million people and restricting access for undocumented immigrants and those seeking gender-affirming care.

What should concern every American, regardless of politics, is how this bill strips power from the courts and concentrates it in the executive branch. It limits judicial enforcement of contempt orders unless plaintiffs post a bond, making it harder for courts to hold government officials accountable. That’s not just procedural – it’s a direct assault on the constitutional balance of powers.

Project 2025’s fingerprints are also visible in the bill’s 10-year freeze on any state or local AI regulation – an unprecedented federal overreach that guts state authority and strengthens unelected federal agencies and tech giants. Add $350 billion for mass deportation efforts and 10,000 new ICE officers, and the bill reads more like a blueprint for centralized control than democratic governance.

Stripping healthcare from working families. Silencing the courts. Undermining state authority. This isn’t a “beautiful” bill – it’s Project 2025 brought to life. If passed it risks handing any president, not just Trump, sweeping new powers with fewer checks than ever before. Our republic’s strength lies in balance – not blind consolidation. Let’s not lose sight of that before it’s too late.

Vicente Garcia

Lovell