Mackenzie called out Wild, saying ““If the Congresswoman has been working for six years to bring down the cost of living for people, she has failed.”
In a series of debates hosted by local media and civic organizations, State Representative Ryan Mackenzie and Congresswoman Susan Wild squared off on issues important to voters. Wild currently represents Pennsylvania’s Seventh Congressional District, with Mackenzie challenging her this November.
During several contentious exchanges, Mackenzie and Wild threw accusations of obscuring and misrepresenting their own records towards each other.
On the topic of inflation, both candidates claimed to have supported policies that will reduce the cost of living for voters. Mackenzie pledged to rein in “wasteful spending in Washington”, which he said was driving the increased prices of goods and services. Mackenzie said, “across the board, [prices of] everything is up 20 percent or more”, accusing Wild of having “voted for every single plank of Bidenomics which has caused the inflation and high prices we are all struggling with.” State Rep Mackenzie argued the increased government spending is resulting in seniors on fixed incomes struggling with inflation.
For her part, Wild attempted to connect with voters experiencing the pinch on their paycheck, saying “I pump my own gas…I understand what people have been going through.” Wild leaned heavily on efforts to lower the cost of prescription drug prices, repeatedly touting the new low cost of insulin for diabetics.
Echoing Vice President Kamala Harris, the Congresswoman blasted “corporate gouging”, referring to what is called “shrinkflation” in which goods are packaged in slightly smaller quantities but without a decrease in cost. Wild said we “have to crack down on corporations that are price gouging.”
When the subject of taxation was discussed, Mackenzie, who represents a portion of Lehigh County in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, also touted his record of having never voted for a tax increase. While acknowledging a question on property tax reform is more of a state issue, Mackenzie argued the best way for federal legislators to help seniors on fixed incomes facing property tax hikes is to lower taxes elsewhere and get the cost of living down. The state rep said he is a supporter of removing taxation on tips as income and on social security benefits.
According to Mackenzie, property tax is not inherently a partisan issue but rather a geographical issue, plugging his multiple vote to reduce or eliminate property taxes and his bipartisan success for a property tax rebate program.
Wild retorted by arguing it’s a “simple” fix of taxing the rich to pay for increased social security benefits for seniors. She agreed with Mackenzie that income tax on social security checks should be repealed but accused Mackenzie of wanting to put Social Security “on the chopping block year after year.” Mackenzie corrected Wild, saying Social Security is mandatory spending, meaning it is outside Congress’ authority of annual appropriations, and that “as a congresswoman, [Wild] should know that.”
Mackenzie also called on Wild for “messing with Medicare” causing premiums to skyrocket on the program’s prescription drug benefit program according to analysts.
WFMZ and BRC 13 hosted the two debates.
