Fitzpatrick moves to extend ACA subsidies as deadline looms – Bucks Round-Up – December 8, 2025
Fitzpatrick moves to extend ACA subsidies as deadline looms
Bucks County Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick is preparing to introduce a bipartisan plan to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies before they lapse at year’s end, a deadline that could sharply raise premiums for millions. The Bucks County Republican said the draft is nearly complete and has support from a small block of moderates in both parties, though he acknowledged the difficult vote math after this fall’s protracted shutdown fight left the issue unresolved. Fitzpatrick’s proposal would grant a two-year extension of enhanced ACA credits while adding a new income cap at roughly 700 percent of the federal poverty level — about $225,000 for a family of four. It also expands health savings accounts, tightens oversight of pharmacy benefit managers, and adds a small monthly fee or annual alternative for low-income enrollers to curb fraud. Notably, the measure omits abortion restrictions sought by some Republicans. Fitzpatrick said those provisions would derail any chance of bipartisan support. Leadership has not yet backed his effort, and competing Democratic plans appear unlikely to clear the Senate. Fitzpatrick, who faces another competitive reelection bid next year, said a discharge petition may be the bill’s only path forward and vowed to support one, even if he will not initiate it himself.
Juvenile charged in Council Rock swatting case
A juvenile has been charged in connection with the October 1 swatting incident that sent Council Rock South High School into lockdown and triggered a sweeping police response across the district. Authorities say the fake 911 report claimed a crisis at the school, prompting immediate lockdown procedures and heavy police presence at both Council Rock South and North. After a joint investigation involving Northampton Township Police, the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, and the FBI, officials confirmed no credible threat and later identified the juvenile caller. District Attorney Jennifer Schorn said the charges underscore the seriousness of swatting, which diverts significant emergency resources and heightens fear in schools already on edge.
Bucks County offers livestream of Services Center construction
Bucks County residents interested in tracking a major local project can now watch construction of the Lower Bucks Government Services Center in real time. The county has launched a 24/7 livestream at BucksCounty.gov/LBGSC, giving the public a ground-up look at the new 39,000-square-foot facility rising along New Falls Road in Bristol Township. Commissioner Chair Bob Harvie framed the project as a chance for taxpayers to see their dollars at work as the county replaces an aging and undersized government building that has long served Lower Bucks. Once complete, the center will house thirteen county departments, ranging from Adult Probation and Domestic Relations to the Health Department, the Sheriff’s Office, and Veterans’ Affairs. Erdy McHenry Architecture designed the building, with Carroll Engineering and TN Ward Company supporting development and construction.
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