WEST PITTSTON, Pa. — Vice President JD Vance visited the swing district of northeastern Pennsylvania on Wednesday to promote President Donald Trump’s significant budget and policy package.
Vance, whose tiebreaking vote was pivotal in the Senate’s approval of the legislation, emphasized the tax breaks included in the bill while framing Democrats as adversaries of tax cuts due to their unanimous opposition.
Democrats have criticized the law for imposing cuts to vital programs such as Medicaid and food stamps, asserting their plans to leverage these changes against Republicans in upcoming congressional races.
Addressing an audience at a machine shop, Vance declared, “We worked so hard to get this legislation passed to cut your taxes, to prevent big tax increases, to make it easier to save and invest in our own country and our own people once again.”
The vice president particularly highlighted new tax deductions on overtime work, stating, “Now, thanks to President Trump’s leadership, if you work overtime, the federal government is not going to take a dime of that overtime. You earned that money. You ought to keep it in your pocket.”
Vance also introduced the legislation’s new children’s savings initiative, termed Trump Accounts, featuring an initial $1,000 deposit from the Treasury Department.
Looking ahead to the upcoming elections that will decide control of Congress, Vance urged attendees, many donned in “Make America Great Again” hats, to actively discuss the benefits of the bill for American citizens over the next year and a half.
The legislation, recently signed into law by Trump with overwhelming Republican support, embodies numerous key campaign promises, including the elimination of taxes on tips alongside controversial cuts amounting to $1.2 trillion to Medicaid and food assistance programs.
In contrast, Democrats recently organized a town hall in Louisiana, House Speaker Mike Johnson’s home state, condemning the legislation as a “reverse Robin Hood—stealing from the poor to give to the rich.”
While Vance’s office has not yet clarified future events to promote the bill nationwide, the extent of Trump’s personal involvement remains uncertain.
In a recent NBC News interview, Trump mentioned he would only travel “a little bit” for the initiative, as he feels it has already been well-received.
He stated, “But honestly, it’s been received so well I don’t think I have to.” The political discourse surrounding the bill is expected to be crucial as some of its most divisive measures, including the aforementioned Medicaid and food assistance cuts, will not take effect until after the midterm elections.
Polling prior to the bill’s passage indicated widespread unpopularity, despite certain provisions like an increased annual child tax credit and no taxes on tips receiving favorable opinions.
In West Pittston, located within Republican Rep. Rob Bresnahan’s district, Trump’s brand of populist politics has found considerable support.
The local landscape has shifted politically, with traditional Democratic strongholds in areas surrounding Wilkes-Barre and Scranton becoming competitive territories. This shift significantly contributed to Trump’s performance in Pennsylvania during the 2024 election.
In districts across Pennsylvania, including the one near Allentown, Republicans successfully ousted two Democratic incumbents in the previous year’s elections after chronic attempts.
Walter Volinski, a 74-year-old retiree from nearby Swoyersville, expressed his satisfaction with the bill’s extension of existing tax cuts from Trump’s first term.
Despite not having read the lengthy 900-page document, he stated, “I trust Donald Trump and the Republican Party to make this country a great country again.”
On the other hand, Steven Taylor, a 52-year-old truck driver from West Pittston, believed that the new law would assist individuals struggling with bills.
Taylor, who identifies as a Republican and supported Trump, appreciated the tax incentives included for overtime pay and tips.
“Everybody’s hurting out here,” he commented. “We need a little extra help.”
However, Taylor expressed concern for his nephew, who has diabetes and might be negatively impacted by the Medicaid cuts outlined in the legislation.
“We don’t know as of yet. But we’re really hopeful that it doesn’t,” he remarked.
Contrarily, Maegan Zielinski, a 33-year-old small business owner from Wilkes-Barre, was among a group protesting Vance’s visit.
She voiced her worries that the law would adversely affect vulnerable groups, particularly those reliant on Medicaid and Medicare.
“I do not like that it continues to support the billionaires instead of the working-class people of America, continuing to give them tax breaks while middle-class America suffers,” Zielinski stated.
Debate around the budget-and-policy package is anticipated to influence the 2026 midterm elections, where Democrats view it as a prime opportunity to counter Trump’s agenda as he approaches his last two years in the Oval Office.
To regain control of Congress, Democrats must gain a net of three House seats.
Republicans, conversely, see their accomplishments as delivering comprehensive tax cuts, enhancing border security funding, and applying constraints on social safety net programs.
Democrats contend that the law compromises healthcare access, jeopardizes the viability of rural hospitals, and elevates costs for middle-class Americans while primarily benefiting the wealthy and slashing green energy subsidies.
Bresnahan’s position is a significant focal point for Democrats aiming to unseat him in the 2026 election, though no challengers have yet emerged.
Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro has actively criticized the state’s Republican lawmakers who supported the bill, including Bresnahan.
“Shame on these members of Congress who spent the last few months saying, ‘Oh, I’ll never cut Medicaid,’” Shapiro remarked during a recent radio appearance in Wilkes-Barre.
He recounted how Bresnahan had claimed not to harm those relying on Medicaid during personal discussions.
In response, Bresnahan defended his vote, contesting that the legislation ultimately strengthens Medicaid by targeting fraud, waste, and abuse while mandating work requirements for those capable of working.
He asserted that the bill ensures that northeastern Pennsylvania hospitals secure the funding they need to continue operations.
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