A few thoughts by some of your Julian neighbors

By Susan Stevenson, David Shorey, Greg Schuett, Carrie Danielson, Chris Reed

Photo via White House: President Donald Trump signing H.R., the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act", on July 4, 2025

September 10, 2025 (San Diego) -- When people talk about H.R. 1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” it’s not just Washington politics to us. We think about what it means for our own pocketbooks, and the truth is, the bill isn’t so beautiful after all.

The bigger standard deduction means we’ll see a little more money in our paychecks. The expanded child tax credit helps families like ours get by, and the promise that tips and overtime won’t be taxed gives us some breathing room. On paper, it looks like a win.

But the other side of the coin is troubling. Nonpartisan experts say the bill adds trillions to the national debt, which our kids and grandkids will be stuck with. The benefits for families like ours expire in just a couple of years, while big corporations lock in permanent tax cuts. Ordinary people get short-term help; the powerful get long-term gains.