July 15, 2026 Editor, The News-Gazette: In our red congressional district, Republican candidates expect to win by large margins. This political preference does not translate into economic security for many residents.
These residents work, pay bills, raise families, and yet struggle to afford their basic needs. United Way’s 2024 ALICE data indicate that, on average, 43 percent of district residents live below either the Federal Poverty Level or the ALICE threshold. ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) includes households that earn too much to qualify for public-assistance programs but not enough to cover the basic costs of housing, food, transportation, health care, and childcare. These are not people who have opted out of work. They are retail workers, home health aides, child-care providers, restaurant employees, school staff, and countless others whose labor keeps our communities functioning.
Rep. Ben Cline voted for the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which made the 2017 tax cuts permanent and provided disproportionate benefits for the wealthy and large corporations. The question is not whether tax relief is welcome, but who receives it, who pays for it, and what resources it jeopardizes.
For low- and middle-income households, the promised tax cuts are modest at best. They are more than offset by higher prices associated with tariffs and the Iranian War. Analyses of the bill found that the poorest households could see their tax burden rise, while middle-class households would receive small benefits. This is not a balanced approach to economic policy. It asks families already living close to the edge to accept higher costs and stricter eligibility rules for essential support, while delivering the largest tax benefits to those who need them least.
Beth Macy, Ben Cline’s opponent, focuses her platform on the concerns of working families. Her priorities include affordable health, and addiction treatment, protecting public resources, and strengthening the social safety net.
In November, Sixth District voters face a choice. They can support Beth Macy’s vision of representation that prioritizes the security of every resident, or they can continue to accept Ben Cline’s RED district. FRANK SETTLE Lexington
