To the editor:

In late April, NY-21 Congressional District Representative Elise Stefanik introduced the Canadian Snowbird Visa Act, extending the time Canadian citizens, who are U.S. property owners, may stay in the U.S. According to Stefanik, it’s supposed to “help revive Canadian tourism to the United States.” To me, a moderate, registered Independent, it’s simply inconsequential political theater.

Since January, Canadian snowbirds are increasingly selling their American homes and the U.S. faces a $6 billion loss in Canadian tourism, according to Moneywise and Newsweek. This is due to President Trump’s reckless border and immigration policies as well as his condescending attitude towards and ill-conceived trade war with Canada.

Our Founders saw the House of Representatives as the governing body closest to the people, which is why it gave it the shortest election cycle — just 2 years — and the sole authority to control government spending and taxation. Tariffs are a tax and, by imposing them, President Trump assumed Congressional authority. But the Republican Congressional majority, including Elise Stefanik, not only capitulated to this unconstitutional overreach but have openly endorsed his anti-democratic, anti-American agenda.

So far this year, Representative Stefanik has not met with, nor responded to, constituents who’ve reached out to her office. However, she attended a political fundraiser outside of her district and threatened a local school system over alleged noncompliance with President Trump’s spiteful anti-DEI order.

As mentioned, the House of Representatives has just a 2-year election cycle. And, to this voter, it appears Elise Stefanik has abandoned her constituents, the American people, and her Constitutional responsibilities to support Donald Trump in his destructive, self-serving quest for wealth and power.

William Papura

Saratoga Springs