Disappointed in Hamadeh’s voting record

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OPINION — In preparation of the forthcoming midterm election, I reviewed the voting record of my 8th District congressman and disappointingly found he had voted or “rubber-stamped” every Trump-backed expenditure.

The Republican party has repeatedly emphasized the need to curb reckless federal spending and address the national debt, but my congressman and all Trump Republicans voted for the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which in fact reduced federal income by cutting taxes for the extreme wealthy. Since the vote, the national debt has reached $40 trillion. So much for slowing the debt.

Here are a few things that the federal government has spent lavishly on with the full support of the MAGA Republicans — the Iran war (an estimated $50 billion and counting), “beautification” of D.C. (ballroom, pool, arch, building fountains) to the tune of over $1 billion and counting, bulldozing inside Big Bend National Park ($1.7 billion), ICE operations ($113 billion directed to the agency), $12 billion in direct payments to farmers to offset losses incurred as a result of tariffs, $46.5 billion for border wall construction to which Mexico has not contributed a dime.

Trump famously bankrupted casinos; now he’s apparently using the federal treasury as a personal piggy bank and MAGA republicans, the supposed conservative stewards of our money, rubber-stamp what I believe is a wanton mismanagement of our tax dollars.

I believe a vote for the MAGA Republican really is a vote to continue this robbery and raise the national debt further.

I encourage all voters, especially independents, to listen to all candidates, explore your values, the importance of our democracy and your conscience when voting. Vote what you believe is right, not what this Republican administration is forcing on us.

Rep. Abe Hamadeh represents Congressional District 8, which includes parts of Glendale, Peoria, north Phoenix, Sun City, Sun City West and Surprise. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.