To the editor:

Congress asks “Who wants a tax cut?” and everyone raises their hand. The Republican bill placates the middle class by throwing them a few crumbs while giving the lion’s share to large corporations and the top 5 percent of richest Americans. They suggest the benefits will trickle down, though history proves the opposite. Already the pharmaceutical industry has passed on billions of dollars to their shareholders, but has anyone seen a reduction in the cost of their medications?

Elise Stefanik voted against the recent tax bill because she said it adversely affected New York residents. But what does Stefanik really think? She avoided stating her position in advance, always reverting to her “common sense” sound bite. I commended her on her vote, but I asked if she would have voted “no” if she was the last, decisive vote on which passage depended. Could she stand up with the courage of John McCain and vote against her party? Though I had always received responses from her office, this question went unanswered.

Ms. Stefanik is a savvy politician, and her primary allegiance is to the Republican establishment in Washington. She is a Washington insider, a former policy writer under the Bush administration. She was hand-picked by Republican leadership to run for the 21st District. She is tightly in step with Speaker Ryan, and she is allowed to vote “no” for her own political expediency if a bill already has enough support to pass. She at the same time could be whipping up votes for passage of a bill and voting “no” to look better to her district.

Republicans could have passed a real middle-class tax cut and restructured corporate taxes for fairness, but instead they added windfalls for large corporations and the very wealthy. The result is a major increase in the deficit. Next they will look to save money by cutting programs that help everyday Americans: Medicare, Social Security, health care and food for the working poor.

Congresswoman Stefanik states the environment is important but voted to allow dumping coal waste into streams and to loosen regulations on power plant emissions. She wants improved access to health care but repeatedly voted to take away health insurance from over 77,000 residents in our district enrolled through the Affordable Care Act (https://www.indivisible.org/resource/aca-data-congressional-district). Since her first campaign I have noted her unwillingness to answer questions directly. Instead of meeting face to face with her constituents, she holds “telephone town halls,” where perhaps it is easier for her to answer in vague generalities.

There are several excellent U.S. congressional candidates living and working in the North Country who would put the needs of the people of the 21st District first. Please take the time to learn about them and vote in the June primary. I support Tedra Cobb. Intelligent and articulate, she has experience in government and small business and has shown her ability to listen, collaborate and communicate. She is one of us and will work to strengthen our economy, environment, health care, education and infrastructure.

Peggy Wiltberger

Saranac Lake