Senate majority leader John Thune says the Big Beautiful Bill was the toughest legislation he has ever worked on

WASHINGTON, DC (KELO.com) — It took nearly a year of work and was the toughest legislation Senate Majority Leader John Thune says he has ever worked on.  Senator Thune marshaled the “One-Big Beautiful bill” through the U-S Senate, an intense, months-long effort, but he says it was worth it.  He says it prevents a 25-hundred dollar tax hike for South Dakota families, boosts military spending and border security, and tightens eligibility for Medicaid and SNAP.

Still, the Big Beautiful Bill has its critics in South Dakota, primarily in the areas of Medicaid and SNAP.  Ben Hanson of the American Cancer Society says Medicaid cuts could hit rural clinics and nursing homes hard, forcing some to close.  Stacey Andernacht with Feeding South Dakota says SNAP cuts could drive more families to local food banks when the food supply is already tight.