Mackenzie promised that he would protect Social Security and said he was “very clear” that he would not change Medicare, but then he voted for a bill that would trigger $500 billion in cuts to Medicare. Then he claimed the bill delivered “real relief for seniors.”
Mackenzie In 2024: "We Must Stop The Wasteful Overspending And Protect Programs Like Medicare And Social Security." According to an opinion article by Ryan Mackenzie in the Morning Call, "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." [Opinion – Ryan Mackenzie, Morning Call, 4/3/24]
Mackenzie Promised To “Take On Wasteful Spending, Defend Seniors, And Protect Medicare And Social Security.” According to a post on Ryan Mackenzie’s Twitter page, “While Washington politicians like Susan Wild are breaking Medicare and bankrupting Social Security. Ryan Mackenzie will take on wasteful spending, defend seniors, and protect Medicare and Social Security. Join the fight: https://mackenzieforcongress.com/record” [Twitter, Ryan Mackenzie, 8/14/24]
Mackenzie’s Office Claimed He Was Committed To Protecting Social Security And Medicare And Claimed Potential Cuts Were Fearmongering And Misinformation. According to Eastern Progress, "A spokesperson for the Congressman issued a statement saying: ‘Congressman Mackenzie campaigned on and remains committed to protecting Social Security and Medicare. Despite the attempts by partisan groups and special interests to fearmonger and misinform the people of the Greater Lehigh Valley, Congressman Mackenzie remains committed to delivering on his promises.’" [Eastern Progress, 4/5/25]
Mackenzie: “Very Clear On The Campaign Trail. And Even Today, No Changes Should Be Occurring For Social Security Or Medicare.” According to a tele-town hall hosted by Rep. Ryan Mackenzie: “MACKENZIE: And obviously, then Medicare is for seniors. So two different programs and very clear on the campaign trail. And even today, no changes should be occurring for Social Security or Medicare. Those are for seniors. And we want to make sure that they, we protect those benefits that they have earned and paid into for so long.” [Rep. Ryan Mackenzie Tele-Town Hall, 3/20/25] (audio)
May 2025: Mackenzie Voted For The FY 2025 Budget Reconciliation Bill That Included $3.8 Trillion In Tax Cuts Offset By $1.5 Trillion In Spending Reductions To Programs Like Medicaid And The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. In May 2025, Mackenzie voted for, according to Congressional Quarterly, “the bill that would provide for approximately $3.8 trillion in net tax cuts and $321 billion in military, border enforcement and judiciary spending, offset by $1.5 trillion in spending reductions, as instructed in the fiscal 2025 budget resolution (H Con Res 14). It would raise the statutory debt limit by $4 trillion and provide for increased spending on defense and border security, spending cuts on social safety net programs, such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. It also includes a mix of tax breaks for businesses and individuals; tax increases on universities and foundations; and a phase-down of clean energy tax credits. […] It would reduce federal spending on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by requiring states to shoulder more of the cost, expand work requirements for SNAP, extend programs authorized under the 2018 farm bill, and prohibit the U.S. Department of Agriculture from increasing the cost of the Thrifty Food Program. As amended, it would cap state and local tax deductions at $40,000 for households with incomes below $500,000.” The House passed the bill by a vote of 215 to 214. [House Vote 145, 5/22/25; Congressional Quarterly, 5/22/25; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1]
July 2025: Mackenzie Voted For The Senate FY 2025 Budget Reconciliation Bill That Extended $4 Trillion In Expiring Tax Cuts, Added New Tax Breaks, Appropriated $448 Billion In Defense, Border, And Immigration Enforcement Funding, Increased The SALT Deduction To $40,000, And Cut Medicaid And Other Social Programs To Offset The Costs. In July 2025, Mackenzie voted for, according to Congressional Quarterly, the “motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the bill that would permanently extend nearly $4 trillion in expiring individual and business tax cuts, create several new tax breaks and fund border and immigration enforcement and air traffic control upgrades. It would cut Medicaid and other safety net programs to partly offset the cost. Among other provisions, it would raise the statutory debt ceiling by $5 trillion and appropriate more than $448 billion in mandatory funding for Trump administration priorities and other needs, including $153 billion for defense, $89 billion for immigration enforcement, and $89.5 billion for border control and security. It also would increase the state and local tax deduction cap to $40,000 annually for five years for households making up to $500,000 a year until 2030, when it would permanently revert to $10,000.” The House passed the bill by a vote of 218 to 214. [House Vote 190, 7/3/25; Congressional Quarterly, 7/3/25; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1]
HEADLINE: "Trump And GOP’s Tax Bill Would Force Cuts To Medicare, CBO Says" [Washington Post, 5/21/25]
Congressional Budget Office Estimated That The House Republican Reconciliation Bill Would Trigger Nearly $500 Billion In Cuts To Medicare. According to a letter the Congressional Budget Office sent to Rep. Brendan Boyle, "Today the Congressional Budget Office transmitted an estimate of the budgetary effects of the 2025 reconciliation bill, as ordered reported by the House Committee on the Budget on May 18, 2025. 1 CBO has not yet completed estimates of the effects of interactions among the titles of the legislation. This letter responds to your questions concerning the sequestration (the cancellation of budgetary resources) in accordance with the Statutory Pay‑As‑You‑Go Act of 2010 (S-PAYGO) that would occur if an enacted bill raised deficits by $2.3 trillion over 10 years. Under S-PAYGO, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is required to maintain 5- and 10-year scorecards that it updates with the estimated cumulative changes in revenues and outlays generated by newly enacted legislation. […] The 4 percent maximum reduction in Medicare spending would apply to sequestration orders for years after 2026. If OMB ordered a sequestration of $230 billion for each year through 2034, the ordered reductions in Medicare spending would increase to about $75 billion in 2034 and would total roughly $490 billion over the 2027–2034 period." [Letter to Rep. Brendan Boyle – Congressional Budget Office, 5/20/25]