Bresnahan owes voters accountability on affordability
Editor: On April 22, I joined a group of concerned citizens gathered on Courthouse Square in Scranton to acknowledge Congressman Rob Bresnahan’s birthday and to voice our concerns. I was compelled to speak out against the continually rising cost of living. It was a central issue in the 2024 campaign, but it seems to have fallen by the wayside. As it stands today, the cost of nearly everything is higher than before Congressman Bresnahan was elected, from gas to groceries to health care. All of these increases were entirely preventable. Since he’s been in office, Rep. Bresnahan has repeatedly voted for policies that are increasing the cost of everyday expenses and taking essential benefits away from Pennsylvanians.
As a college student, I feel the cost of living acutely. My budget is already strained as I am trying to earn my independence and get my life off the ground. I don’t know if I will ever be able to own a home or pay off my student loans. Since the election, those things feel even further out of reach.
As a group, we marched to Rep. Bresnahan’s office in Scranton to have our grievances heard. We were met by the congressman’s staff who politely, though somewhat unenthusiastically, heard our concerns. Unfortunately, as I was speaking with the congressman’s staff, the building manager demanded that we leave. Though we protested, we did leave peacefully as requested. It was a deeply unsatisfying result.
I hope this letter will make the congressman aware of our concerns and of the difficulty we had in voicing them. I hope that he will hold an in-person town hall where constituents can speak freely. I want Congressman Bresnahan to direct his focus to the cost of living and to making Pennsylvania more affordable.
Kenny Gaughan, Dunmore