U.S. Rep. Susan Wild and state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie faced off in a debate Sunday night at the BRCTV-13 studio, outlining their stances on key issues as they vie to represent Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District. Wild, a Democrat, is seeking her fourth term, while Mackenzie, a Republican, aims to make the leap from the state Legislature to Congress.

The district includes all of Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties, and part of Monroe County.

Infrastructure, warehouses

The debate opened with a discussion on infrastructure, particularly the rapid increase in warehouses and distribution centers in the Lehigh Valley. Asked how she would address the growing infrastructure issues caused by heavy truck traffic, Wild highlighted her efforts to secure funding for infrastructure improvements.

“I’m very proud to have voted for the bipartisan infrastructure law,” she said.

Wild expressed concern over the proliferation of warehouses due to Pennsylvania’s unique zoning laws, stressing the need to “divert truck traffic properly” and ensure roads are maintained.

“We should never let industry invade that beauty,” she said regarding the district’s green spaces.

Mackenzie acknowledged the region’s growth and the need to balance development with community integrity. He spoke about his work with local officials to “help improve and reduce the impact when a new development is going into our community.”

“We need to make sure that funding for roads and bridges is not diverted away to other projects,” he added.

Tackling inflations

Inflation, from groceries to gas prices emerged as a focal point during Sunday’s debate.

“Families all across our country are getting crushed by inflationary prices,” Mackenzie said.

He touted his legislative record in the state House, noting his introduction of tax reform bills, including the elimination of the inheritance tax for small businesses. Mackenzie blamed the current inflation on what he called “massive overspending in Washington, D.C.” by Wild and the Biden administration, and promised to “rein in that wasteful spending” if elected to Congress.

Wild acknowledged the impact of inflation on working families.

“I do my own grocery shopping, I pump my own gas,” she said. Wild called out corporate “price gouging” and “shrinkflation,” in which product sizes are reduced while prices remain the same.

“We have got to make sure that we are cracking down on corporations that are price gouging,” Wild said. “Reducing prescription drug and grocery costs should be a priority.”

Foreign policy, Ukraine aid

Both candidates were asked about their stance on funding Ukraine in its war against Russia, given the district’s significant Ukrainian population.

Wild strongly supported aid to Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of supporting democracy and cautioning against potential further Russian aggression.

“This is Putin’s war,” she said. “He would love to take over Ukraine and then move into Poland and the rest of Eastern Europe.”

U.S. support, Wild added, is a way to prevent a larger global conflict.

Mackenzie, while acknowledging the atrocities committed by Russia, criticized what he called “the failed policy and foreign policy of Susan Wild and Joe Biden.”

He called for a “peaceful resolution” to the war, suggesting that the current approach has allowed the conflict to “drag on for two and a half years.”

Mackenzie also expanded the critique to other global conflicts, saying, “We see chaos around the world, not just in Ukraine, but also in the Middle East.”

Property taxes

On the issue of property tax reform, Mackenzie outlined his efforts in the state Legislature.

“I have voted multiple times to reduce and eliminate the property tax,” he said. He also pointed out that recent bipartisan efforts expanded the property tax rent rebate program for low-income seniors.

“I have proposed federal-level tax relief and advocated for no taxes on tips and no taxes on Social Security,” he said.

Wild acknowledged that property taxes are a state issue but stressed the need for a fair federal tax code.

“The tax cuts that were enacted at the end of 2017 primarily benefited the 1%,” she said, adding that there should be a rollback of taxes on Social Security.

Abortion

During a heated discussion on abortion, Mackenzie distanced himself from the idea of a federal abortion ban.

“I want to make it very clear that I do not support a federal ban on abortion,” he said. “I also support exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother.”

However, Wild painted a different picture of her opponent’s stance, accusing him of supporting abortion bans without exceptions in the past.

“Contrary to what he just said, back in 2016 and 2017, he voted in favor of a ban on abortion that did not include exceptions for rape and incest,” Wild said.

Mackenzie rebutted, accusing Wild of misleading voters.

“What we heard from Susan Wild was a bunch of lies. … She supports taxpayer-funded abortions and absolutely no restrictions,” he said.

Social Security, economic policy

Wild expressed concern over the future of the Social Security program.

“There is a relatively easy fix, and it’s called taxing billionaires as we should,” she said.

Mackenzie, on the other hand, blamed reckless federal spending for the strain on Social Security.

“What my opponent does … is massive deficit spending, which hurts our ability to fund those benefits,” he said.

The candidates also clashed over the future of Medicare and Social Security funding. Mackenzie accused Wild of favoring zero-based budgeting, which he claimed would “put Medicare and Social Security on the chopping block every single year.”

Wild denied the claim, calling herself a staunch defender of both programs and an original co-sponsor of the Social Security 2100 bill.

Immigration debate

Mackenzie, who recently visited the U.S.-Mexico border, highlighted the crisis of illegal immigration and criticized Wild for not taking stronger action.

“Susan Wild has done nothing to close the border,” he said, blaming her for the rise in illegal immigration and the strain it has placed on local housing and resources.

Wild defended her record, saying she supported bipartisan solutions and had voted for increased funding for border security and technology to prevent drug trafficking. She also pointed to a bipartisan Senate immigration bill that she co-sponsored, but lamented that House Speaker Mike Johnson refused to bring the bill to a vote.

“We would have had a solution this year to the border problem if Donald Trump had not instructed Speaker Johnson not to take it up for a vote,” Wild said.

Polarization, bipartisanship

Wild highlighted her ranking in the top 10 for bipartisan members of Congress and her work on the House Foreign Affairs and Ethics Committees.

“I represent all of the people, regardless of their party affiliation,” Wild said, adding that she had even voted against her party on a major spending bill.

Mackenzie, meanwhile, touted his bipartisan legislative achievements in the state House, particularly around immigration and veterans’ issues. He dismissed Wild’s claims of bipartisanship, calling her “a radical partisan” and pointing to her voting record in support of the Biden administration and House Democratic leadership. “She has voted 100% of the time with the Biden administration and 98% of the time with Speaker Nancy Pelosi,” Mackenzie said.

Closing statements

Wild emphasized her record of service and commitment to core issues like education, health care and workers’ rights.

“We cannot afford to roll time back … to a candidate who is an extremist on women’s rights, workers’ rights and education,” she said.

Mackenzie, on the other hand, called for a new direction.

“What was on display tonight is a clear contrast … her failed policy solutions have led to rising inflation, a wide-open southern border and chaos around the world,” he said.