Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
The U.S. House of Representatives voted 220-213 Friday morning on a large piece of legislation that would expand social programs and increase efforts to fight climate change.
Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican from Middletown Township, voted with his fellow GOP members of Congress against the Build Back Better Act.
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The piece of legislation still needs to go through the U.S. Senate where it could face changes.
President Joe Biden is supportive of the bill, a hallmark of his road map for America.
ABC News reported the bill is designed to “reduce the cost of some prescription drugs, extend the child tax credit, provide universal pre-kindergarten for 3-and 4-year olds, allow four weeks of paid family and medical leave, build affordable housing, expand Medicare coverage, and create ‘clean energy’ jobs.”
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Many of the proposals in the bill are popular with Democrats and independents, according to polling. A Yahoo News/YouGov poll showed lowering the price of prescription drugs by allowing Medicare to negotiate with drug makers and expanding Medicare coverage to include dental, hearing, and vision are extremely popular among Democrats, Republicans, and independents.
Many Republican lawmakers have raised alarm over some of the proposals and the $1.75 trillion price tag.
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Before Friday’s vote, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated the Build Back Better Act would add $367 billion the federal deficit over a decade. However, the estimate did not include expected revenue brought in by increased IRS enforcement of tax laws and regulations that data has shown are often flouted by wealthy Americans.
Fitzpatrick did not comment Friday on the bill or his vote against it.
“Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick’s vote today proved yet again that his loyalty towards his extremist party bosses trumps his commitment to the voters who rely on him to deliver,” Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson James Singer said Friday.
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Ashley Ehasz, a Democrat running for Congress in the First Congressional District released a statement: : “Fitzpatrick just voted AGAINST BBB, the biggest investment in children and caregiving in generations, and the largest effort to combat climate change in U.S. history. This vote was a crucial test of leadership and Fitzpatrick failed.”
Progressive group Indivisible Bucks County called Fitzpatrick’s no vote “irresponsible.” and said he was not interested in the needs of local residents.
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Earlier this month, Fitzpatrick was one of 13 Republicans who voted for a large infrastructure spending package.
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