Washington Democratic U.S. Representative Adam Smith has sharply criticized the recently-approved Republican tax and spending legislation, calling it ‘a horrible piece of legislation.’
Smith, who represents Washington’s 9th Congressional District, which includes areas from Mercer Island to Kent, Federal Way, and Auburn, voiced his concerns during a recent visit to KNKX studios in Seattle.
The new megabill, championed by President Donald Trump, proposes significant cuts to Medicaid and various social services, along with reductions in funding for clean energy and environmental initiatives.
‘First of all, let’s start with the fact that it adds $3.5 trillion to the debt,’ Smith stated, criticizing the substantial tax cuts embedded in the legislation. ‘The sheer volume of tax cuts that they put in place are going to make it very, very difficult to fund priorities that I think most of America has, around health care, around education – policies that definitely need to be supported.’
As the highest-ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, Smith also addressed broader fiscal responsibility in a podcast interview with Jen Rubin. He noted a concerning demand within the American populace for $2 worth of goods and services for every $1 they pay in taxes.
‘I think we need to get to a more realistic place,’ Smith remarked. ‘I also think politicians campaigning need to stop promising something for nothing.’
In the podcast, Smith tackled a range of pressing topics, including U.S. military actions and immigration policy.
Regarding the recent U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, Smith acknowledged that while the strikes may have delayed Iran’s nuclear program, the effectiveness is limited. ‘They set Iran’s program back, probably quite a bit. But keep in mind, quite a bit is like a year or two, alright? And that seems like a long time until that year passes, and then, what do you do about Iran’s nuclear program?’ he explained, expressing his opposition to the attacks.
‘I did not support the attack on Iran. I don’t think it was legal. I don’t think there was a justification for it. There was no self-defense argument. There was no congressional approval. It was incredibly risky to drag the U.S. into a conflict. And I didn’t think it was going to eliminate Iran’s nuclear program. We still need a diplomatic solution,’ he asserted.
Smith also discussed the controversial plan to utilize U.S. military bases for holding undocumented immigrants. He characterized President Trump’s actions as an authoritarian shift in government, underscoring, ‘Donald Trump is attempting an authoritarian takeover of our government. That’s what’s going on.’
He condemned the initiative, stating that ‘first of all, he’s spending an enormous amount of money on that, which is undermining the readiness of our United States military to meet the national security defense needs that we have.’ He added that involving the military in domestic law enforcement represents a dangerous consolidation of executive power.
On immigration reform, Smith emphasized the necessity of bipartisan collaboration but acknowledged the political hurdles with the Republican Party. He remarked, ‘Absolutely, there’s something we can do. The problem is we need Republican votes to do it.’ He insisted that while securing the border is essential, it is not right to deport long-term undocumented residents contributing positively to communities.
Smith expressed frustration about the current political climate, particularly concerning the influence of President Trump on Republican legislators. ‘Two things get in the way of that: one, Donald Trump is an outstanding liar… and they will keep that up, and Republicans will hide behind that,’ he noted.
He further stated that many Congressional Republicans fear Trump more than they fear their constituents, highlighting a need for change in political accountability.
In these reflections, Rep. Adam Smith has underscored crucial elements of the national discourse, particularly emphasizing the long-term effects of current legislation and the importance of responsible governance.
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