The passage of the “big beautiful bill” by House Republicans was proof that they have stopped listening to the American people and, instead, bowed to Donald Trump.
In the weeks leading up to the final vote, people pleaded, phoned, wrote, and protested outside of Republican Representative Brian Fitzpatrick’s office in Langhorne, asking him to take a stand against the bill.
In all that time, Fitzpatrick did not feel the need to tell his 10,827 constituents who will lose Medicaid coverage and 2,027 who will lose SNAP benefits that he stood with them and intended to vote No against his party’s budget bill.
While his constituents learned how the bill and its gutting of social services will negatively impact their livelihoods, the lives of their children, employment, health care, and small businesses, he did not hold one town hall, give one speech, or write an op-ed in the local newspapers to boast the pride of his conviction.
Massive cuts to Medicaid will cause the closing of about 300 rural hospitals nationwide. Hundreds of thousands of jobs will be lost by doctors, nurses, and every kind of worker needed to run these facilities. Local businesses will face a domino-effect.
Closing hospitals will create hours, instead of minutes, to reach emergency medical care for serious accidents, heart attack, stroke, and difficult pregnancies, resulting in deaths otherwise saved.
Since almost all nursing homes rely on Medicaid payments, about 580 across the country will close. Where will the elderly of a community go?
Medicaid and the ACA do not send checks in the mail; they are doctor or emergency room visits and hospital stays.
Democrats held town halls and rallies in Republican districts around the country; including Fitzpatrick’s, by Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) – a Council Rock graduate.
They held congressional hearings in DC and, on the floor of the House, they quoted letters from people from all over the U.S. explaining how the so-called “big beautiful bill” will devastate their lives.
As food prices continue to rise, SNAP benefits and school lunch programs will be reduced or eliminated, leaving thousands of kids hungry. With government subsidies cut, local farmers and outlets who supply this food will dry up.
One would think that these efforts are at least to lower the deficit. In fact, every financial analysis shows the deficit will increase between $2-$4 trillion by 2034. Because the “savings” from cutting Medicaid, SNAP and many other government services that help middle and low-income families is going as tax cuts to people who already have more money than they can spend in a lifetime.
READ: After Cuts to Food Stamps, Trump Administration Ends Government’s Annual Report on Hunger in America
Also, the more one earns; the higher the tax cut. Also, the tax cuts for the wealthy are permanent; for middle to low-income families, the cuts will end in 2028.
There are reputable sites online, written in ‘plain language,’ explaining the extent of the terribly consequential proposals contained in this GOP Budget.
Moving forward, Democratic Senate and House Minority Leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries have spoken in unison: They will ‘oppose legislation that does not include key health care provisions and a commitment not to roll them back.’ If Republicans do not agree to negotiations and concessions, Democrats will force a government shutdown.
Fitzpatrick has a dilemma. I believe his final No vote was for show (after voting Yes multiple times to advance the budget bill) because the Republican caucus had whipped enough to pass the “big beautiful bill.” This time, they will need his Yes vote. Will he side with Trump and the MAGA Congress or his constituents?
Voters will be keeping track as he will likely face off against Democrat Bob Harvie in next year’s midterm elections.
