BETHLEHEM, PA – Last night (March 20th), Democratic leaders from the federal, state, and local levels gathered in Bethlehem to hold a fully-packed, in-person town hall that addressed concerns from Ryan Mackenzie’s constituents about looming Medicaid cuts.

At the People’s Town Hall moderated by Pennsylvania Democratic Party’s Chair Sharif Street, Pennsylvanians voiced their concerns to the following national and local leaders:

• DNC Chair Ken Martin, 
• former U.S. Representative Susan Wild (PA-07), 
• U.S. Representative Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), 
• U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin (MD-08), 
• Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley, 
• Lehigh County Commissioner Jon Irons, 
• President of Planned Parenthood Keystone, Melissa Reed, 
• and Executive Director of Communication Action Lehigh Valley, Dawn Godshall.

Notable moments from the People’s Town Hall:

• Susan Wild highlighted that, at a comparable point in her first term, she had already hosted 3 in-person town halls, one of which was in the most Republican part of her district. She contrasted her record to Ryan Mackenzie’s 1 telephone event thus far, noted that Ryan Mackenzie’s only event was announced in direct response to the People’s Town Hall, and stressed that all her town halls were in person until the COVID-19 pandemic.
• A town hall attendee directed a question at Ryan Mackenzie: “I frequently hear in the news: ‘There will be a little pain. It will be rough for a while.’ Who are you talking about? Will people in government’s children feel pain? Mackenzie’s children? Trump’s children? Elon’s children? Or is it just our children? Whose children is Mackenzie okay with inflicting pain on?”
• Ken Martin shared that Medicaid, SNAP, and WIC helped his mother, who was a teenage single parent, provide for him and his siblings.
• Mark Pinsley stated that Medicaid cuts would lead to one of or some combination of the following: cuts in healthcare services, increased local taxes to offset lost federal funding, and increased financial burden on patients and their family members. He and Jon Irons both suggested taxing the ultra-wealthy.
• Mary Gay Scanlon pointed out that Trump’s tax cuts for billionaires is the direct cause of Medicaid getting slashed.
• Dawn Godshall relayed that she met with Ryan Mackenzie and that he was noncommittal in helping Community Action Lehigh Valley secure future funding to continue feeding thousands of Lehigh Valley residents.
• Melissa Reed announced that Medicaid cuts would likely lead to Planned Parenthood charging for some healthcare services that are currently free.

Pennsylvania Democratic Party’s Chair Sharif Street issued the following statement:

“Last night’s People’s Town Hall was just the beginning. This conversation about Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security is far from over — we will continue this action and make sure your voices are heard every step of the way.”

Pennsylvania Democratic Party’s Executive Director Mitch Kates issued the following statement:

“While Ryan McKenzie held a staged telephone town call with pre-selected callers, a group of Democrats from the local, state, and federal levels had an in-person town hall meeting in the heart of the Lehigh Valley. Residents of the community came with their stories, fears, and concerns and heard from a powerful group of empathetic speakers who answered questions. 

The MAGA Party lies; Democrats show up.”