U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick was the only Pennsylvania Republican to vote against President Donald Trump’s sweeping budget bill, which passed Congress this week despite deep divisions over safety net cuts and ballooning deficits.
Fitzpatrick, who represents Bucks County and part of Montgomery County, opposed the final version of the bill after the U.S. Senate added stricter Medicaid cuts. He supported the House’s earlier version but withdrew support over changes he said would harm his constituents.
The legislation extends Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, eliminates taxes on tips and overtime, boosts defense and border spending, and ends many green energy tax credits. To partially offset costs, it imposes work requirements and frequent reporting for Medicaid recipients, a move projected to strip coverage from millions. The Congressional Budget Office estimates nearly 12 million Americans could lose insurance, including more than 300,000 in Pennsylvania.
The bill also reduces the federal share of SNAP food assistance, requiring states with higher error rates to absorb new costs. Pennsylvania, already running tight budgets, would be among those hit hardest.
Though Fitzpatrick broke with most of his party, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee still attacked him for backing the initial version, calling it an endorsement of cuts to Medicaid and benefits for the wealthiest Americans.
The bill is expected to add over $3 trillion to the national debt over the next decade while delivering the largest tax reductions to high-income households.
Fitzpatrick, a moderate who has held his suburban seat since 2018, could face political headwinds as Democrats target the district, which voted for Kamala Harris in 2024.
Source: PA Capital-Star
The bill also reduces the federal share of SNAP food assistance, requiring states with higher error rates to absorb new costs. Pennsylvania, already running tight budgets, would be among those hit hardest.
What does “higher error rates” mean? That they don’t do a good job of vetting their Medicaid recipients? This needs to be explained.