LEHIGH VALLEY, PENNSYLVANIA — In a recent interview with The Morning Call, Congressman Ryan Mackenzie listed the Republican Tax Law among his accomplishments in Congress. And in a separate appearance on The Fox News Rundown, Mackenzie even acknowledged that affordability is a “top tier issue” for voters, but again touted the Law because it “put money directly back in people's pockets.” He called the law’s tax changes “positive reforms” and said they had “helped” people.

The people Ryan Mackenzie is “helping” clearly aren’t constituents in the Lehigh Valley who are losing health coverage, paying sky high premiums, and getting hit with rising costs for every day essentials. The reality is, only billionaires and corporations receiving tax cuts are benefiting from the Republican Tax Law.

“When you’re already struggling to pay for groceries, keep a roof over your head and afford health care, it’s hard to understand how taking away that help can be called an accomplishment,” said Stephanie, resident of PA-07. “What Ryan Mackenzie is saying in his interviews is definitely not what we’re experiencing in the Lehigh Valley. Everyday, it feels like dollars don’t go as far and come in slower. We don’t need to be pushed further behind. We need leaders who are focused on making it easier to get by, not celebrating their fake wins.”

Here are the facts:

• The Republican Tax Law Mackenzie voted for made historic cuts to Medicaid that could result in 340,000 Pennsylvanians losing coverage and put hospitals and health care providers under financial strain. Approximately 160,000 of Mackenzie’s constituents rely on Medicaid. 

• The law also made the largest cuts to SNAP in the program’s history. In Pennsylvania, more than 210,000 people have lost SNAP benefits, including 60,000 children. 

• Mackenzie has repeatedly framed the law as an affordability measure. In the Fox News Rundown interview, he said affordability is a “top tier issue” and argued that the tax law was the “fastest and most effective way” to help individual households.

• Yet, when combined with his support for cost-raising tariffs, allowing health care tax credits to expire, and supporting continued military action in Iran,  Ryan Mackenzie’s “accomplishment” is costing his constituents $3,900 more just to get by.

If, even after facing all these facts, Ryan Mackenzie still believes the Republican Tax Law is an accomplishment, he should explain:

• When families in his district are forced to choose between groceries, health care and other necessities, will he acknowledge that the Republican Tax Law he supported is making their choices harder?

• How does he reconcile calling the law an affordability solution with the that fact that families are clearly paying more for everyday essentials?

• Will he reverse the cuts to Medicaid and SNAP that he voted to enact when his constituents are pleading for a lifeline?

Families don't need Congressman Mackenzie to tell them that his tax cuts for billionaires are an accomplishment. They need to know why he thinks taking away their health care and food assistance is something to celebrate.