HARRISBURG — Affordable Pennsylvania joined South Central Pennsylvania residents, advocates, and elected officials Thursday evening in Harrisburg for an SOS! Affordability Crisis Town Hall, where residents shared firsthand experiences with rising costs and called on Congressman Scott Perry to answer for his support of policies they say are making it harder for working families to get by.

See more photos and video from the event here.

The conversation brought together community members and local leaders to put a human face on the affordability crisis. Residents shared stories about the difficult choices they are being forced to make as the cost of health care, groceries, housing, gas and other necessities continues to rise. Felicity Williams, Executive Director of Pennsylvanians Together in Action, Kristal Markle-Temons, Founder of Bold Growth & Leadership, Harrisburg City Councilmember Robert Lawson, Dauphin County Clerk of Courts Tina Nixon, and Camp Hill Borough Councilmember Rich Forsman joined community members for the discussion. Congressman Perry was invited, but did not attend.

“Families in South Central Pennsylvania are doing everything they can to stay afloat, but there’s only so much they can cut from the budget,” said Arona, a PA-10 resident. “We need Congressman Perry to understand what these rising costs actually mean for families like mine. He aggressively opposed extending the tax credits, but what that meant for me was my premium going up to $800 per paycheck. When people are struggling to afford the basics, our elected officials should be fighting to make life more affordable — not making it harder.”

Congressman Perry voted for the Republican Tax Law, which included historic cuts to Medicaid and SNAP while providing tax breaks to wealthy Americans and corporations. He has also voted six times over the last year in support of cost-raising tariffs, opposed renewing enhanced health care tax credits, and supported continued military action in Iran. Organizers say these policies are contributing to higher costs for Pennsylvania families, with working Pennsylvanians paying more than $3,900 more per year for necessities.

“Working families are drowning in costs while the people elected to represent them continue to prioritize wealthy corporations and billionaires,” said Rachele Fortier, Executive Director of Affordable Pennsylvania. “People came together tonight because they are looking for a lifeline. Congressman Perry needs to hear from the families in his district who are struggling to afford health care, groceries and other necessities, and he needs to answer for the choices he is making in Washington.”

The conversation also highlighted the need for a tax system that asks wealthy corporations and billionaires to pay their fair share rather than shifting more of the burden onto working families.

Affordable Pennsylvania and its partners are calling on Congressman Perry to listen to the South Central Pennsylvania residents who are struggling with rising costs and support policies that lower the cost of living, protect health care and food assistance, and put working families ahead of tax breaks for the wealthy.

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