America’s social safety net is poised to become thinner if the Republicans’ massive tax and spending bill crosses the finish line, at a time when low-income consumers are struggling and recession fears linger.

As Senate Republicans rushed to pass a massive budget package known as the “big, beautiful bill,” the political consequences of pushing for the deepest cuts in decades to Medicaid and other safety net programs serving millions of people are already becoming clear.

West Virginia Sen. Jim Justice (R) says he is a “no” on the amendment proposed by Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) to stop able-bodied adults without dependent children from receiving the 9-to-1 federal