By: Michael Ryan
As a Marine Corps veteran, former HR executive, and lifelong American who believes in hard work, personal responsibility, and smart government, I don’t throw praise around lightly when it comes to Washington, D.C. But the “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBB) finally feels like a piece of legislation that’s rooted in common sense.
I’m not a political junkie. I’m a 68-year-old husband, volunteer, AMAC member, and proud conservative who’s been retired since 2019. I served in the Marine Corps in the late ’70s, then went to college on the GI Bill, spent decades in the workforce, and now spend my time volunteering with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, helping to showcase Las Vegas to the world.
But retirement isn’t what it used to be. Everything costs more, including groceries, gas, and health care – and there’s no paycheck coming in. We live off our investments and Social Security. So, when Washington, D.C. actually passes a bill that helps people like me, I pay attention.
First and foremost, the Social Security tax break in the OBBB, in the form of an additional $6000 deduction for middle-class seniors, is welcome relief. That extra cash flow means more freedom to enjoy life – not just covering bills but enjoying occasional dinners out (my wife and I consider ourselves “foodies”) or taking care of unexpected expenses without panic. It’s the kind of thing that makes a real difference to people who worked for 40+ years and earned every dime they have.
Second, I’m encouraged by the economic focus of the bill. When the Trump tax cuts were first passed, I saw my investments grow like never before. Now that they’re being made permanent through the OBBB, I’m hopeful we’ll see that same market confidence return. Seniors need growth, not handouts and not uncertainty. A predictable tax code and strong economy lets our savings work for us.
Health care is another area where this bill gets it right. The expanded Health Savings Account (HSA) provisions are a huge value-add. I don’t want to rely fully on the government for my health care, but I do want the flexibility to cover rising out-of-pocket costs and prescriptions. The OBBB lets us do that on our own terms.
Let’s talk about telehealth. Being able to get care from home without driving across town or sitting in a waiting room full of sick people? That’s smart, efficient, and respectful of people’s time and energy. The OBBB strengthens that access.
Finally, one of the most overlooked parts of the bill, border security, is actually one of the most important. As a veteran, I’ve always believed that a strong country needs strong borders. The enhancements the OBBB makes, at all points of entry, not just the southern border, give me peace of mind. Americans deserve a sovereign nation that controls who comes in and who doesn’t. That’s not controversial. That’s just common sense.
At a time when so much in politics feels performative or disconnected, the One Big Beautiful Bill is something different. It’s not perfect – no bill ever is – but it actually speaks to the needs of people like me; retirees, veterans, and everyday Americans who don’t want to be taken care of, we just want government to get out of the way, protect our borders, and let us keep more of what we’ve earned.
The OBBB does that. And that’s why I support it.
Michael Ryan is an AMAC member, Marine Corps Veteran, and former HR executive living in Las Vegas, Nevada.
For me, the $6,000 deduction is not enough. It should have been no tax on social security benefits, period. We already paid tax on it.
I fully agree with Michael Ryan’s comments on the OBBB! Thank God we have President Trump and common sense back in the White House. It’s so refreshing after 4 years of the feckless, woke Biden administration.
Very well said! Thank you for your service.
I’m not a big fan of Trump. I didn’t vote for him nor for her – I didn’t vote. I’m glad he won but after Jan 6 I just can’t support him like I use to. I believe Trump is the stop gap we need to get our country back. The Big Beautiful Bill will take years to change things but it will have some effect and some things will get changed. Things that needed to be changed, closely looked at, closely monitored and yes even terminated or realigned. It’ll be painful but it needed to be done. We need to adjust fire on a lot of things that are out of control. And I think the Trump administration has the opportunity to Make America Great Again or at the very least, Better than it was.
The BBB. Should have been exactly what Trump stated “No tax on Social Security Security”! Now it is Deductions with limit of 4 years! NOT permanent! Temporary!
what happened to “promises made promises kept”?
I am retired Navy and I agree with most of the points made in this article. However, one question remains. Who’s going to pay for it?
Great article god bless I joined AMAC lifetime for a reason
While I agree with several parts of the OBBB, there is some sneaky stuff in this bill that most people don;’t know about that will destroy public health and research innovation in this country. How many people know that the NIH budget for 2026 has been cut by 40%?? That is NOT getting rid of waste and fraud.That is all out destruction! NIH has seen periods of slower growth but no one has SLASHED the NIH budget with the intent to kill the NIH. Many people don’t realize that the NIH is not only the largest funding source for academic biomedical research in this country but also in the world! We need to make sure congress knows that this is NOT ACCEPTABLE!