Houlahan, Ciarrocchi Spar On Inflation Reduction Act

WEST CHESTER, PA —U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan said it was not easy to pass the $739 billion Inflation Reduction Act, but she was grateful it happened.

“I was proud to vote for what will be both the largest deficit reduction measure in over a decade and an historic investment in our fight to mitigate climate change and the rise of extreme weather events,” said Houlahan, a Democrat who represents the 6th Congressional District, which covers all of Chester County and portions of southeastern Berks County.

Guy Ciarrocchi, Houlahan’s Republican opponent, said he would have voted against the Inflation Reduction Act.

“The number one issue for everyone is inflation,” Chiarrocchi said. “That’s why I would have been an emphatic “No” vote on Biden’s so-called ‘Inflation Reduction Act’.’’

President Biden is expected to sign the law on Tuesday.

According to Houlahan, the Inflation Reduction Act:

• Reduces carbon emissions by 40% by 2030 by investing in clean energy production here at home;
• Lowers energy costs for families by providing rebates and tax credits to make homes and vehicles more energy efficient;
• Helps seniors by enabling Medicare to negotiate prices with drug companies, capping annual out-of-pocket costs at $2,000 per person;
• Does not raise taxes on anyone making less than $400,000 a year, while ensuring that America’s largest and most profitable corporations, those making over $1 billion annually, pay something on that income by implementing a 15% minimum corporate tax;
• Makes overdue investments in the IRS to modernize its outdated systems and hire more staff.

On the other hand, Chiarrocchi said that an analysis from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and CBS news predicted that the Inflation Reduction Act won’t lower inflation—in fact, it will probably make inflation worse.

Ciarrocchi said that for months, the Republicans have been asking Biden and Houlahan to listen to take steps to increase our energy supply to lower costs and inflation.

“What we need is $2 gas; yet, Houlahan gives us 87,000 more IRS agents, who will harass small businesses and families,” Ciarrocchi said.

Houlahan countered that the largest volume of her office’s casework is from constituents calling about IRS cases.

“People can’t get answers about their delayed refund, or even an acknowledgement that their return was received,” she said. “The delay is an unnecessary hardship for many, and the interest payments are an inefficient use of taxpayer dollars.”