SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, Pa. — Republican Congressman Dan Meuser and Democratic challenger Rachel Wallace traded criticism over healthcare, household costs, tariffs and immigration during a debate at Penn State Schuylkill.
Bob Carl, president of the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, moderated the forum, which featured questions gathered from public submissions and chamber committees.
Wallace repeatedly turned toward Meuser during her speaking time to question his voting record, stock portfolio, and positions on data centers and foreign trade. Carl clarified that when Wallace directed questions to Meuser during her three minutes, he interpreted them as invitations for an immediate response and allowed Meuser time to answer.
Healthcare Costs, Inflation and Stock Holdings
During the healthcare discussion, Meuser characterized Wallace’s arguments as “Socialist Democrat” talking points and criticized proposals he associated with greater government control and spending.
“Whenever I hear a Democrat... talk about a solution... You know what I hear? We need more government control and we need to tax the rich and we need to spend more,” Meuser said.
He promoted his “Most Favored Patients” legislation, describing it as a way to codify direct federal price negotiations with pharmaceutical companies. He also supported expanded Health Savings Accounts and Association Health Plans.
Wallace cited household expenses across Pennsylvania’s 9th Congressional District, including gasoline at $4.65 in Bloomsburg, rising heating oil costs, record-high diesel prices and higher prices for beef, coffee and tomatoes.
She accused Meuser of voting for a $1 trillion Medicaid reduction over 10 years, arguing that the reductions put rural hospitals, nursing homes and health coverage for 30,000 district residents at risk.
Wallace also questioned Meuser’s personal financial portfolio.
“You're very good at taking care of your bottom line, but when are you fighting for ours?” Wallace asked.
Agriculture, Tariffs and the Farmer Vote
Wallace highlighted her family’s roots in Berks County farming dating to the 1700s. She argued that fuel prices, fertilizer costs and tariffs on foreign equipment were placing heavy burdens on local producers.
She criticized Meuser’s response to those pressures and accused him of prioritizing artificial intelligence data center developers over family farms.
Meuser interjected to defend his record and assert his standing among agricultural producers.
“If you're asking me a question, I'll bet you I get 80% of the farmer vote throughout Pennsylvania's ninth because of the work I've done,” Meuser said.
Meuser defended tariffs as tools to protect domestic farmers from unfair foreign dumping, citing protections for Pennsylvania mushroom growers against Canadian imports.
He also highlighted his work with House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson on Farm Bill crop insurance, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids legislation, H-2A farm labor reforms and what he described as $12 billion in federal agricultural reconciliation funding.
Small Business Taxes, Hydro and Trade Policy
Meuser defended the legislation he referred to as the Working Families Tax Cut and the “Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
He cited Section 199A pass-through deductions, which he said prevented a 20% tax increase on small businesses, along with bonus depreciation and permanent research and development tax credits.
He also highlighted tax relief involving tips, overtime and what he described as a $6,000 Social Security tax deduction.
Wallace pointed to Hydro, a manufacturing employer in Schuylkill County, as an example of a business she said was being harmed by federal tariffs on Canadian aluminum.
She outlined three central disagreements with Meuser:
- Foreign conflicts and fuel costs: Wallace criticized Meuser’s votes supporting foreign conflicts and pledged to vote to end them, arguing that doing so would lower gasoline, diesel and heating oil costs.
- Tariffs: She criticized Meuser’s support for tariffs and pledged to eliminate them on key trading partners such as Canada.
- Healthcare funding: She accused Meuser of supporting cuts affecting rural hospitals and nursing homes and pledged to reverse those reductions.
Wallace also alleged that federal tax legislation provided $80 billion in tax breaks to AI data center developers while 8,000 district residents lost SNAP assistance and 30,000 lost health coverage.
Immigration, Border Security and the Dignity Act
Wallace said she and Meuser share some core border security priorities despite their political disagreements.
“Our immigration system is broken... I think that we do agree,” Wallace said.
“I think that we agree that we should have law and order at our borders, that we should have secure borders... stop the flow of fentanyl... [and] criminals who are here illegally should be prosecuted, serve their time, and then be deported.”
Wallace then pressed Meuser on why comprehensive immigration legislation had not been resolved during his eight years in Congress.
Meuser highlighted his support for the SAVE Act, describing it as requiring proof of citizenship and identification to register to vote.
He also supported a modified version of the bipartisan Dignity Act. Describing his approach as “high fences and wide gates,” Meuser advocated a structured, humane legal pathway for long-term undocumented residents who have lived and worked peacefully in the United States for more than 10 years.
Fentanyl, Recovery Programs and Police Funding
Meuser cited his co-sponsorship of the HALT Fentanyl Act and support for the PATIENTS Act, presenting them as measures to address fentanyl-related substances and expand treatment beds.
He said border fentanyl seizures and Pennsylvania overdose deaths had declined.
Wallace described border security as an initial step, followed by three federal priorities:
- Recovery grants: Direct federal funding to frontline community recovery organizations.
- Mental health funding: Expand federal support and reverse healthcare budget cuts.
- Law enforcement support: Provide facility and equipment grants to local police departments.
Wallace cited the retirement statement of Pottsville’s police chief to illustrate municipal budget pressures. She said rising healthcare expenses leave police departments with fewer resources to hire officers.
Energy Production and Household Bills
Meuser blamed Biden administration policies involving pipelines, refineries and liquefied natural gas exports for higher fuel prices. He called for expanded pipeline infrastructure, drilling in Alaska and support for anthracite coal production.
Wallace rejected Meuser’s “socialist” characterization, describing herself as a “proud capitalist.” She cited endorsements from former Democratic Congressman Tim Holden, political strategist James Carville and the United Mine Workers.
She supported an “all-of-the-above” energy approach incorporating natural gas, coal, nuclear, solar and wind.
Wallace argued that ending foreign conflicts and removing tariffs would help lower fuel and electricity bills.
National Debt, Social Security and Economic Growth
Wallace described the national debt as $40 trillion and said annual interest payments exceed the Department of Defense budget.
She pledged to protect Social Security and Medicare and supported raising the payroll tax contribution cap.
Meuser attributed peak inflation to what he described as $7.2 trillion in post-COVID federal spending. He argued that expanding private enterprise and maintaining competitive tax rates offer a sustainable path to long-term economic growth.
