Joe Holleman | Post-Dispatch
Political correspondent/columnist
Rep. Wesley Bell, seated left, was among Democrats who watched as Minority Leader Hakeem Jefferies gave a record-setting 8-hour, 45-minute speech to oppose President Trump鈥檚 tax and spending bill in the U.S. House on Thursday, July 3, 2025.
The U.S. House鈥檚 final passage Thursday of a major tax and spending bill now sends the legislation to President Donald Trump to be signed into law.
And reaction from local House members to the passage 鈥斅燽y a 218-213 vote that came down almost unanimously along political party lines 鈥斅爀licited predictable, political comments from some area representatives who represent the bulk of the 最新杏吧原创 area.
U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner, a Republican whose district covers much of west and south 最新杏吧原创 County, voted for the bill and called it 鈥渁 win for hardworking Missourians.鈥
In a statement, Wagner said the bill 鈥渋s pro-growth, pro-worker, pro-family, pro-business and America First. That鈥檚 what the American people voted for, and I am proud to deliver.鈥
U.S. Rep. Bob Onder, a Republican from Lake Saint Louis who represents St. Charles County, said the vote was 鈥渁 clear affirmation of the America First agenda.鈥
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鈥淲ithout this bill, Americans would have faced the largest tax increase in history. We simply couldn鈥檛 let that happen,鈥 he said.
U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, a Republican from Murphysboro, Illinois, whose district includes Monroe County and part of St. Clair County, said he was 鈥減roud to work鈥 for passage.
He said the bill will benefit the country by cutting taxes, 鈥渟ecuring the border and kicking fraudsters off benefits intended for families in need.鈥
U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, a Republican whose district takes in part of Madison County and Jersey County in Illinois, called the bill 鈥渁 historic victory for American workers, families, and farmers.鈥
From the other side of the political aisle, U.S. Rep Wesley Bell, a Democrat whose district includes 最新杏吧原创 and north 最新杏吧原创 County, voted against passage. He said the House鈥檚 action Thursday 鈥渨ill go down as one of the darkest votes in modern American history.鈥
鈥淭his bill wasn鈥檛 about cutting waste, balancing budgets, or fiscal responsibility. It was about taking from the poor to give even more to the rich,鈥 Bell said.
U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, a Democrat from Springfield, Illinois, who represents parts of Madison and St. Clair counties, also opposed the bill. She said the bill鈥檚 passage is 鈥渁 profound betrayal to hardworking American families.鈥
Post-Dispatch photographers capture hundreds of images each week; here's a glimpse at the week of June 8, 2025. Video edited by Jenna Jones.
