To The Reader’s Forum:

The residents of Congressional District # 23 know Nick Langworthy describes himself as a man who values life, who values those providing military service to our nation, and who values – as so many of us do- fiscal responsibility in order to safeguard the present and future economy for our children and grandchildren.

I have written to Congressman Langworthy asking him to focus on sustaining our Medicaid safety-net for both our aging population and our lower-income neighbors, and to NOT reduce health care- even to a small degree- in order to reduce our national debt. Making Americans less healthy so we can have a tax cut, doesn’t make us richer. It makes us sicker and less able.

This year, Langworthy has voted against items that he had earlier voted fo. They funded Medicaid, the VA for those who serve and our widely utilized children’s health care (CHIP).

Congressman Langworthy’s vote to approve the recent “big, beautiful bill” resulted in the loss of income- producing resources: the National Parks had been able to be a small but growing source of income for the Federal Government but many have had to close because their employees have been dismissed by this administration; the IRS had been able to collect taxes-not just from those in the middle and the bottom, but from the millionaires and billionaires -which all went into the treasury.

By firing so many IRS employees, especially those who were auditing the complicated tax reports of the ultra wealthy – and who were having success at getting those audited to pay what they owed – all of that potential income is lost.

And yet, everyone, wealthy or not, wants to visit a National Park. Paid for by our taxes. Rich or poor, we all use highways, tunnels and bridges paid for by our taxes. Rich or poor, we all want to have our meat inspected and confirmed safe to eat. So, poor or rich, we need all those IRS auditors so that we all pay our fair share of the taxes.

I encourage everyone reading this to let Congressman Langworthy know – by phone Jamestown: 716-488-8111) or by email (go to his website- Langworthy.house.gov and click the box that says Contact Us) your own thinking about these subjects. Because, rich or poor, we are all his constituents and, as Americans, we all have a voice.

Deborah First

Chautauqua