Election 2024 Your View by Ryan Mackenzie: My experience in Harrisburg will help me address illegal immigration … – The Morning Call
Editors Note: The Morning Call solicited Your Views from candidates in contested primaries in the Lehigh Valley region. The three Republican candidates running for the nomination to challenge U.S. Rep. Susan Wild in November were asked to discuss what they see as they biggest issue(s) facing the 7th Congressional District and how they would approach solving the issue(s). Their responses are running this week, in alphabetical order by last name. Your Views from state House races will run next week.
I am running for Congress because we are losing our country.
The disastrous policies coming out of Washington are making us less safe and creating conditions where Americas next generation may not be better off. Its a serious concern for me personally. My wife and I are expecting our first child a son who is due any day now.
Like any new parent, I find myself reflecting on the conditions my child will be born into. With that in mind, I am extremely worried about the direction of our country.
I have had the honor and pleasure of serving as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing portions of western and northern Lehigh County, working every day to help make our community better.
But its getting harder and harder to have a positive outlook on Americas future. We have a wide-open border that allows migrants to enter the country illegally in record numbers hundreds of thousands of people each month. That adds up to millions over the last few years. That situation is leading to an increase in drugs, crime and human trafficking. Its diverting resources that should be spent to help struggling Americans and rebuild crumbling communities.
We also have an economy where inflation and high prices continue to spiral out of control. With wages not keeping pace, the increased cost of food, energy, housing and other necessities have made life unaffordable and upward mobility unattainable. The biggest driver of inflation has been massive overspending in Washington funded by debt that must be paid by future generations.
In spite of all of this, we continue to hear from members of both parties that they want to continue their reckless spending. They want to send more of our money overseas and hand out Americans hard-earned tax dollars to people in our country illegally. This fiscally irresponsible approach is unsustainable and must be stopped. And I know how.
As a state representative, I have experience authoring and passing legislation that directly addresses illegal immigration and improves our states economic climate.
Currently, I serve as Republican chair of the House Labor & Industry Committee. A number of years ago, both union and nonunion construction industry stakeholders approached me about the increase of illegal labor in their field and how it harmed American workers. So, I acted fast and authored and passed legislation making E-Verify mandatory for all employers in the construction industry.
E-Verify is a Department of Homeland Security program that allows employers to rapidly check the legal working status of individuals before they are hired. It is available for employers to use voluntarily, but my legislation made it mandatory to address the problem of illegal labor in Pennsylvanias construction industry. The bill also makes clear that failure to use E-Verify could lead to fines and other penalties for offending businesses. Ultimately, it passed both the House and Senate in 2019 with veto-proof majorities and become law without Gov. Tom Wolfs signature.
More recently, I introduced a package of legislation to crack down on illegal immigration. It includes bills to further expand the mandatory use of E-Verify, protect vulnerable children from labor exploitation, end sanctuary cities, increase cross-checks to clean up voter rolls, and add language to our state constitution to make it clear that people in the country illegally are not eligible to vote in state or local elections even if officials try to allow for that practice.
On an economic front, I have built a proven record of putting taxpayers first. I never voted for a tax increase, opposed the gas tax increase, voted to reform the broken pension system to save billions of dollars, and I supported property tax elimination for homeowners. I have also led by example when it comes to fiscal responsibility, refusing taxpayer-paid per diems and a state car, supporting legislation to do away with those perks, and also voting to reduce the size of the Legislature.
Another law I authored eliminated the inheritance tax for small family businesses in 2013, streamlined excessive regulations in 2012 and 16, and protected local tax dollars from fraud in 2017. I was also part of a group that scoured state funds to stave off a massive tax increase proposal by Wolf.This effort helped pass a balanced budget without an additional burden on taxpayers.
As a dedicated public servant with a history of reforming government, protecting taxpayers and securing our communities, I am raising my hand to serve in Congress because Im uniquely suited to address illegal immigration and massive overspending in Washington.
We must finish building the wall on our Southern border and end the forever wars overseas. We must stop the wasteful overspending and protect programs like Medicare and Social Security. We must elect candidates who are willing to tackle these issues and I hope you will join me in this fight to get our country back on the right track. For my family and for yours.
State Rep. Ryan Mackenzie of Emmaus is a Republican candidate for the 7th Congressional District.
Tuesday: Kevin Dellicker: Ill apply experience in military, business to solve nations problems
Coming Thursday: Maria Montero: I want to restore faith in the American dream
- Republicans have made illegal immigration a top issue in NH sometimes with misinformation New Hampshire Bulletin - New Hampshire Bulletin - April 22nd, 2024 [April 22nd, 2024]
- S.B. 4: This Texas immigration law is worse than you think. - Slate - April 22nd, 2024 [April 22nd, 2024]
- Texas has spent $11 billion on border security. Is it working? - The Texas Tribune - April 22nd, 2024 [April 22nd, 2024]
- White House weighs immigration relief for spouses of US citizens - AOL - April 22nd, 2024 [April 22nd, 2024]
- Long-Term Illegal Aliens Claim They are Being Discriminated Against and Demand Work Authorizations Too | FAIRUS ... - Federation for American... - April 22nd, 2024 [April 22nd, 2024]
- White House weighs immigration relief for spouses of US citizens - SRN News - April 22nd, 2024 [April 22nd, 2024]
- Gov. Kevin Stitt hasn't committed to signing new illegal immigration bill - KOCO Oklahoma City - April 22nd, 2024 [April 22nd, 2024]
- Proposed $45 million cut to Denver's budget to pay for illegal immigration crisis advances - The Denver Gazette - April 22nd, 2024 [April 22nd, 2024]
- Border bill would keep invasion going - The Highland County Press - April 22nd, 2024 [April 22nd, 2024]
- Oklahoma House passes immigration bill amid bitter divide - KOCO Oklahoma City - April 22nd, 2024 [April 22nd, 2024]
- Brandon Johnson is willing to bankrupt Chicago for illegal immigrants - Washington Examiner - April 22nd, 2024 [April 22nd, 2024]
- Civic groups call on govt. to end crackdown on illegal immigration - The Korea Herald - April 22nd, 2024 [April 22nd, 2024]
- Concerns rise over increase in illegal border crossings in Northern New York - WPTZ - April 22nd, 2024 [April 22nd, 2024]
- San Diego County is Sending Illegal Immigrants to You California Globe - California Globe - April 22nd, 2024 [April 22nd, 2024]
- Swing State Dem Wanted Illegal Immigrants To Receive Taxpayer-Funded COVID Relief - Washington Free Beacon - April 22nd, 2024 [April 22nd, 2024]
- 'France would do well to see foreign students as agents of influence rather than potential illegal immigrants' - Le Monde - April 22nd, 2024 [April 22nd, 2024]
- On Tax Day, Special Interest Groups are Pushing Congress to Expand Tax Breaks that Benefit Illegal Aliens | FAIRUS.org - Federation for American... - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Operation Lone Star Arrests Violent Criminals, Human Smugglers - Office of the Texas Governor - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Utah immigrant advocates blast anti-illegal immigration talk as 'fear mongering,' 'dehumanizing' - KSL.com - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Pete Ricketts: The Biden Admin is Facilitating Illegal Immigration - Scottsbluff Star Herald - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Homeland Security Investigations - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Newsroom - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- GOP Gov. Primary Heats up as Ayotte, Morse Throw Down on Illegal Immigration - NH Journal - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- TN Governor Lee signs bill targeting illegal immigration - SuperTalk 92.9 - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Trump, Johnson want to halt noncitizen voting. It's already illegal - NPR - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Reynolds signs illegal immigration bill - The Iowa Torch - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Illegal immigration ticks down at the border - Washington Times - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Inside Mexico's new efforts to curb illegal immigration - The Times of Northwest Indiana - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Q&A The Inflation Impact of Illegal Immigration - 1290 WJNO - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Migrants were not secretly flown to Florida with taxpayer money - AOL - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- OKLAHOMA VOICE: McCall unveils details of his Oklahoma illegal immigration bill - Muskogee Daily Phoenix - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Paris Moves Migrants Out Ahead of Olympics | FAIRUS.org - Federation for American Immigration Reform - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Biden Claims the Mantle of Cesar Chavez, While Ignoring the Labor Leader's Opposition to Illegal Immigration - The New York Sun - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Trumps Misleading Chart on Illegal Immigration - FactCheck.org - April 8th, 2024 [April 8th, 2024]
- Rep. Bruck: Whitmer admin's dangerous policy offers housing subsidies to illegal immigrants - Michigan House Republicans - April 8th, 2024 [April 8th, 2024]
- Biden's Miscalculations When He Opened the Border to Unchecked Illegal Immigration - The New York Sun - April 8th, 2024 [April 8th, 2024]
- Weaponized immigration wrecking sovereign America - The Highland County Press - April 8th, 2024 [April 8th, 2024]
- 'Animals': Trump ups rhetoric on illegal immigration - Yahoo! Voices - April 8th, 2024 [April 8th, 2024]
- Illegal Immigration, Legal Pot Top Of Mind For Hoosiers - WISH TV Indianapolis, IN - April 8th, 2024 [April 8th, 2024]
- Judge rules DHS must deliver better treatment to illegal immigrants awaiting arrest - Washington Times - April 8th, 2024 [April 8th, 2024]
- Crisis in California: Migrants overwhelming state with 'no end in sight,' local officials warn - Fox News - April 8th, 2024 [April 8th, 2024]
- Why is Sam Bankman-Fried treated more leniently than someone facing illegal immigration charges? - The Hill - April 8th, 2024 [April 8th, 2024]
- Trump in Michigan: What data says about illegal immigration, crime and economy - Bridge Michigan - April 4th, 2024 [April 4th, 2024]
- Texas, Biden admin square off in circuit court over blocked anti-illegal immigration law - Fox News - April 4th, 2024 [April 4th, 2024]
- Migrants face rioting charges after El Paso border charge - The Texas Tribune - April 4th, 2024 [April 4th, 2024]
- Contradicting Trump, Ruby Garcia's Sister Says He Never Contacted Family - The New York Times - April 4th, 2024 [April 4th, 2024]
- Colorado's tipping point on illegal immigration | Denver Gazette - coloradopolitics.com - April 4th, 2024 [April 4th, 2024]
- Biden Policies Sending More Flights of Illegal Immigrants to Florida Than Any Other State - Florida Daily - April 4th, 2024 [April 4th, 2024]
- Trump calls migrants 'animals,' intensifying focus on illegal immigration - The Union Leader - April 4th, 2024 [April 4th, 2024]
- Texas immigration law could allow arrest and deportation of illegal migrants; Biden fuming - The Hill - April 4th, 2024 [April 4th, 2024]
- Democrats have shifted stance on illegal immigration: Byron York - Washington Examiner - April 4th, 2024 [April 4th, 2024]
- Texas Surges Soldiers, Resources To Boost Border Security In El Paso - Office of the Texas Governor - April 4th, 2024 [April 4th, 2024]
- More Americans say they are worried about illegal immigration, terrorism in 2024: Survey - The Hill - April 4th, 2024 [April 4th, 2024]
- 200,000 Deportation Cases Thrown Out as Mayorkas' DHS Fails to File Paperwork | FAIRUS.org - Federation for American Immigration Reform - April 4th, 2024 [April 4th, 2024]
- Biden Created the Border Crisis. Now, Texas Is Stepping Up to Defend Our Sovereignty. - The Mountain Press - April 4th, 2024 [April 4th, 2024]
- Another red state moves a step closer to enacting Texas-style anti-illegal immigration bill - Fox News - April 4th, 2024 [April 4th, 2024]
- Gretchen Whitmer Lashes Out At Trump Following His Michigan Visit Focused On Illegal Immigration - The Daily Wire - April 4th, 2024 [April 4th, 2024]
- White House Report Card: Biden sets fundraising, illegal immigration records - Washington Examiner - April 4th, 2024 [April 4th, 2024]
- Payback: 90% of illegal immigrants in secret program flown to Florida and Texas - Washington Examiner - April 4th, 2024 [April 4th, 2024]
- How a Georgia nursing student's killing reached Biden's State of the Union - NPR - March 13th, 2024 [March 13th, 2024]
- Heads Up: Your Tax Dollars Are Being Used To Fly in Biden's Illegal Immigrants - The New York Sun - March 13th, 2024 [March 13th, 2024]
- Chinese migration to US is nothing new but the reasons for recent surge at Southern border are - The Conversation - March 13th, 2024 [March 13th, 2024]
- U.S. House approves immigration bill linked to murder of Georgia college student Louisiana Illuminator - Louisana Illuminator - March 13th, 2024 [March 13th, 2024]
- High Speed Chases: How Illegal Alien Bailouts Threaten American Communities | FAIRUS.org - Federation for American Immigration Reform - March 13th, 2024 [March 13th, 2024]
- One of America's Best Places to Live Considering Handouts for Illegals, Despite Resident Opposition | FAIRUS.org - Federation for American Immigration... - March 13th, 2024 [March 13th, 2024]
- Sen. Johnson Joins Letter to DHS Secretary Mayorkas Requesting Information on Illegal Immigrant Charged with ... - Senator Ron Johnson - March 13th, 2024 [March 13th, 2024]
- Immigrants without legal status get public health insurance in more states : Shots - Health News - NPR - December 31st, 2023 [December 31st, 2023]
- Unintended results of state's 'Anti-Illegal Immigration legislation' - Tallahassee Democrat - December 31st, 2023 [December 31st, 2023]
- U.S. Department of Justice says it'll sue if Texas enforces new law punishing illegal border crossing - The Texas Tribune - December 31st, 2023 [December 31st, 2023]
- Operation Lone Star Bolsters Historic Border Security Mission In 2023 - Office of the Texas Governor - December 31st, 2023 [December 31st, 2023]
- Illegal immigration in Europe is driving a massive political shift: Ami Horowitz - Fox News - December 31st, 2023 [December 31st, 2023]
- Department of Justice Demands Abbott Stop Enforcement of Law Criminalizing Illegal Immigration - The Texan - December 31st, 2023 [December 31st, 2023]
- Race-Baiting Dems Smeared Me as an Heartless Bigot for Demanding Secure Borders. 3 Years Later, the Left Has ... - Heritage.org - December 31st, 2023 [December 31st, 2023]
- Immigration and National Security- Dr. Mackubin Owens - GoLocalProv - December 31st, 2023 [December 31st, 2023]
- The massive burden of Bidens undocumented immigrants - The Hill - December 2nd, 2023 [December 2nd, 2023]
- Texas is on the verge of making illegal border crossings a state crime. Here's what you need to know. - The Texas Tribune - December 2nd, 2023 [December 2nd, 2023]
- Hong Kong, mainland Chinese authorities team-up for crackdown on illegal immigration - South China Morning Post - December 2nd, 2023 [December 2nd, 2023]
- Operation Lone Star Stops Drug Smuggling Across Biden's Open Border - Office of the Texas Governor - December 2nd, 2023 [December 2nd, 2023]
- In October 2023, the Foreign-Born Share Was the Highest in History - Immigration Blog - December 2nd, 2023 [December 2nd, 2023]
- Poland extend border controls with Slovakia to stem illegal migration - Reuters - December 2nd, 2023 [December 2nd, 2023]
- Sanctuary City Chicago Sees 11,000% Increase in Arrests of ... - Federation for American Immigration Reform - December 2nd, 2023 [December 2nd, 2023]
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