Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick was among the the Republicans who voted for the spending and tax bill that was backed by President Donald Trump.
The bill, which has been called the “Big, Beautiful Bill”, passed by a margin of 215-214, with two Republicans, congressmen Warren Davidson, of Ohio, and Thomas Massie, of Kentucky, opposing it due to concerns about the growing deficit.
Congressman Tom Kean, the Republican who represents Hunterdon County, also voted for the bill.
Trump hailed the passage on social media, calling it “arguably the most significant piece of Legislation that will ever be signed in the History of our Country!”
Democrats sharply criticized the bill, citing cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, increased deficit spending, and tax breaks for the rich.
The Republican federal spending and tax bill aims to extend 2017 tax cuts, which total around $3.8 trillion, while introducing new tax breaks like no taxes on tips or overtime for a temporary period, and raising the child tax credit. To offset these cuts and manage spending, the bill proposes significant changes to welfare programs, including new work requirements for Medicaid and SNAP recipients, and eliminates clean energy tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act. Additionally, it allocates billions funds for border security, including finishing the border wall and hiring more agents, and introduces new fees for various immigration services. The legislation also overhauls the student loan system by eliminating several repayment options and altering Pell Grant eligibility, and seeks to raise the nation’s debt limit by $4 trillion, according to NPR.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill will add more than $2.3 trillion to the national deficit over the next decade.
Reviews by Yale’s Budget Lab and the University of Pennsylvania Wharton Budget Project project more than $3 trillion in new national debt due to the bill.
Republican officials said the bill follows through on Trump’s promises to extend tax cuts from his first term.
The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate, where reports indicate senators plan to make amendments.
Fitzpatrick, who had vowed not to cut Medicare or Social Security, touted that the bill puts more federal money toward Medicaid each year through 2034.
“As this process proceeds, I will be working closely with the Senate to make constructive changes to this bill, specifically in the energy, workforce, and health portions of the bill so we can strengthen SNAP and Medicaid solvency for the long-term and ensure access for the most vulnerable that truly need assistance. This will be a red-line for me before supporting final passage,” the congressman said in a statement.
The Medicare Rights Center, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting social safety net programs, warned the bill “takes direct aim at Medicare, gutting eligibility and restricting access to benefits, while also cutting Medicaid in ways that would harm people who are dually eligible for both programs.”
Bucks County Commissioner Chairperson Bob Harvie, a Democrat challenging Fitzpatrick next year, criticized his vote on social media.
Harvie stated that Fitzpatrick “had the opportunity today to stand up for seniors, for our children, for working families, and for all of us. Instead, Fitzpatrick does what he always does, he did what he was told.”
In a statement on his website, Fitzpatrick highlighted an expanded child tax credit and projected decreased taxes for those making between $30,000 and $80,000.
The National Republican Congressional Committee lauded Fitzpatrick’s vote, stating the bill will protect the U.S. border, promote “fiscal sanity,” and grow the economy.
A national Democratic official told reporters Fitzpatrick showed “zero resistance to House Republicans’ tax scam.”
Kean’s office touted the increase of the SALT cap and said it will “put $$$ back in the pockets of taxpayers.”
The U.S. Treasury Department reported Friday morning that the national debt was at $36.2 trillion.
Last week, Moody’s Ratings downgraded the federal government’s credit rating and cited the nation’s inability to address large and growing deficits. It marked the first time all three major credit ratings agencies have downgraded U.S. credit below their top score.
The credit decrease comes amid financial uncertainty related to Trump’s tariff plan and sinking consumer confidence in the economy since the new administration has taken office.
Federal data indicates the last surplus for the federal government was in 2001, with the largest yearly deficit in two decades being in 2020 during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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