News & Politics

PA pols react to Senate passing sweeping health care, climate and deficit-reduction bill

The estimated $740 billion package passed Sunday looks to tackle drug costs, greenhouse gas emissions and more.

From left, Sens. Pat Toomey, Bob Casey, and Rep. Scott Perry.

From left, Sens. Pat Toomey, Bob Casey, and Rep. Scott Perry. Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Getty

By Justin Sweitzer and Harrison Cann

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By Justin Sweitzer and Harrison Cann

Along a party-line vote, the U.S. Senate passed an estimated $740 billion package Sunday that seeks to combat climate change, lower health care costs and reduce the federal deficit. As the sweeping bill package moves to the House for final approval, Democrats and President Joe Biden have now moved a centerpiece of their economic agenda forward after it was declared dead numerous times. 

Vice President Kamala Harris was the deciding vote in the deadlocked Senate, where no Republicans supported the legislation, now known as the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. With many projections and polls showing a potential tough outing for Democrats in the upcoming midterms, the compromise package – which included a breakthrough deal with Sens. Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia, and Krysten Sinema, a Democrat from Arizona – could be a selling point for party leaders in November. At the same time, Republicans like Sen. Pat Toomey are calling out the legislation as “corporate welfare” that “does nothing to alleviate the inflation tax Americans are feeling every day.” 

Below are reactions from some of the commonwealth’s most prominent politicians – and a few others – who offered a range of thoughts on the bill and how it will affect the nation’s economy on the verge of a recession. 

Gov. Tom Wolf

Sen. Pat Toomey

Sen. Bob Casey 

Lt. Gov. John Fetterman

U.S. Rep. Susan Wild

U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler

U.S. Rep. John Joyce

U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle

Republican Congressional Candidate Guy Ciarrocchi

NEXT STORY: Who’s running for Congress in Pennsylvania in 2022? A City & State guide.

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