Michael Cruz’s letter, “Narrow, Short-Lived Benefits” (Aug. 14), is yet another example of how he sidesteps the real value of legislation in favor of distortion. While Cruz takes aim at the Big Beautiful Bill, he does so by mischaracterizing its intent and downplaying the very real relief it provides to working families.
Cruz dismisses the “No Tax on Tips” provision as narrow. But here in Santa Clarita, many of us know someone who waits tables or works in hospitality. For those families, even $25 a week is not “short-lived.” It’s gas in the car, groceries on the table, or help with rising bills. Cruz may reduce that to a statistic, but for working people it’s immediate, practical relief.
Cruz also ignores context. Raising the debt ceiling wasn’t an abstract budget exercise; it prevented default. Without this bill, retirees’ savings, mortgage rates, and the broader economy would have taken the hit. Stability matters. Brushing this aside, as Cruz does, misleads readers about what was at stake.
He further suggests tariffs are little more than hidden costs. But tariffs are also leverage — tools to push back against unfair trade practices that hurt American workers. Protecting jobs at home is the first step toward the sustainable wage growth Cruz himself says he supports.
Of course, no one claims this bill is the final fix. Better, longer-term reforms are needed: permanent tax simplification, payroll tax relief for low-income earners, investments in skills and infrastructure, and smarter spending discipline. But here’s the reality: President Donald Trump cannot push those sweeping reforms through a divided Congress right now. With razor-thin margins and partisan gridlock, this bill was the only viable path to prevent default and deliver relief. Pretending otherwise, as Cruz does, is not serious policymaking.
Yes, we must address the national debt. But Cruz’s pattern of misrepresenting arguments and dismissing incremental progress does nothing to solve it. The Big Beautiful Bill may not be perfect, but it shields families from hardship, prevents economic chaos and builds a bridge toward broader reforms. That’s not “short-lived.” That’s responsible governance.
Nancy Fairbanks
Valencia
