WASHINGTON–The U.S. House passed the Build Back Better Act Friday morning mostly along party lines, by a vote of 220 to 213. The bill, the final cost of which is expected to exceed $2.2 trillion, must now pass the Senate to become law. Democrats plan to use the process of “reconciliation”, meaning it could pass if all 50 Democrats vote yea.
“A sad day for America. With the push of a button my Democrat colleagues voted to: socialize childcare; radically expand the IRS; give tax credits to illegal immigrants; raise gas prices through the roof; allow taxpayer funded abortions; add billions to our national debt,” Tweeted Republican Congressman Jim Banks, who represents northeast Indiana.
Democrats see the bill as a way to pay for social spending programs.
Democratic Congressman Frank Mrvan, who represents northwest Indiana Tweeted that he was proud to see the House pass the bill.
“It is notable that this legislation extends the expanded Child Tax Credit for one year and includes hearing as a Medicare benefit. It also includes $20 billion to strengthen the ability of individuals to obtain a higher education, including increasing the maximum Pell grant award by $550,” said Mrvan.
“To improve access to health care, this measure also increases federal resources for older Americans to receive care in their homes, strengthens the home health care workforce, and lowers prescription costs by allowing the negotiation of certain drugs under Medicare. The legislation also importantly includes $3 billion in capital access investments for small businesses and entrepreneurs.”
Congresswoman Jackie Walorski, who represents northern Indiana, called the bill a recipe for disaster and a path to socialism.
“While the Democrats’ so-called ‘Build Back Better’ plan would indeed build a bigger government for unelected bureaucrats, all the American people get are higher taxes, skyrocketing inflation, and less freedom,” she said.
“This unprecedented power grab is astonishingly out of touch with the hardworking Hoosiers who feed, fuel, and power our nation. It vastly expands entitlement programs, promotes ‘welfare without work,’ punishes American job creators with burdensome taxes, weaponizes the IRS to target families and small businesses, and encourages taxpayer funding for abortion – all while giving tax breaks to wealthy blue states. Alarmingly, this legislation would decimate parents’ rights by dictating where their kids learn and who can provide child care – purposefully excluding faith-based options in an attack on Americans’ religious freedom,” she said.
