There’s a sign in the grocery store window saying “We accept (food stamps).” (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
A novel analysis shows that the law signed into law by President Donald Trump during his second term gives wealthy Ohioans far more benefits than any other group, and takes more away from Ohio’s most vulnerable families than most people can imagine.
This summer, Republicans in Congress passed — and Trump signed — the One Big Beautiful Act, which has stirred controversy.
He extended the tax cuts he signed into law in 2017. The extension provides $1 trillion for the richest 1% of Americans for the next 10 years. At the same time, cut nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid funding and nearly $200 billion in food aid over the same period.
But analysis by Policy Matters Ohio he said if you look at the details, the legislation is even worse for poor and middle-class Ohioans.
Referring to Trump’s signature H.R. 1 bill, he noted that many of the least popular cuts are being delayed until after the 2026 midterm elections and others are being hidden in other ways.
“This appearances-based approach to promoting H.R. 1 was possible in part because many of the largest budget cuts are simply difficult to understand, and many of the cuts come from many different directions,” it said.
For example “… “Congressional leaders have chosen to dramatically reduce the revenues that states apply to fund their share of Medicaid, finance Medicaid expansion, overcome budget shortfalls, and expand services,” the Policy Matters report said.
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“States will now be responsible for a greater health care cost burden due to H.R. 1 restrictions on these revenue streams.”
One way Trump’s bill will accomplish this is by phasing out “state-directed payments.”
These are payments that states can mandate from Medicaid managed care providers to cover certain expenses.
H.R. 1 also prohibits states from increasing vendor taxes or creating novel ones.
The report found the two measures would take between $6.5 billion and $13 billion over the next decade to fund state Medicaid expansion.
The expansion provides health care to 770,000 Ohioans and has lowered the state’s uninsured rate half.
In June, Gov. Mike DeWine signed a budget that included a provision that would make this possible end Medicaid expansion in Ohio if the federal government funds less than 90% of the cost.
This is a real possibility in airy of the cuts hidden in the bill Trump signed this summer.
““In short, congressional leaders have chosen to dramatically reduce the revenues that states use to fund their share of Medicaid, fund Medicaid expansion, overcome budget shortfalls, and expand services,” the Policy Matters report said.
“States will now be responsible for a greater health care cost burden due to H.R. 1 restrictions on these revenue streams.”
A huge number of Ohioans could also lose federal food benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The state realized the impact of such a loss last month when Trump moved to delay food benefits amid the partial government shutdown.
Multiple food pantries in Ohio reported record demand during the resulting crisis.
The bill he signed this summer would take away the estimated amount $416 million a year in food aid for Ohioans in need.
Considering that the average recipient gets only $6.17 per day program, the loss will be felt by many.
Ninety-two percent adult SNAP recipients under age 65 are working, in school, diseased and unable to work, or unable to work due to caring responsibilities.
Most others can only receive three months of benefits over three years unless they can show that they either work or receive 80 hours of job training each month.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act removed exemptions for the homeless, people ages 55 to 64, people living in high-unemployment areas, parents of the youngest child age 14, veterans and former foster youth.
“The Urban Institute estimates that 717,000 Ohio families will lose some or all of their SNAP benefits under the administrative mega bill,” the Policy Matters report said.
Moreover, countries will now come face to face huge fees unless the error rate in processing SNAP benefits drops to levels that some experts consider unrealistic.
The report says Ohio lawmakers will face the prospect of finding money elsewhere if many thousands of people are to avoid disease or starvation, or both.
She added that the General Assembly has a poor track record on such matters.
“In Ohio, state legislators have created an increasingly unfair tax system over the past two decades that will cost the state $12.8 billion in lost annual revenues (primarily through income tax cuts) by 2024,” it said.
“These lost revenues represent nearly half of the tax revenues collected by Ohio for the General Revenue Fund in fiscal year 2024.”
