Why Russell Fry Should Choose His Constituents Over Party Loyalty

By John Vincent, candidate for South Carolina's 7th Congressional District

As Congress debates the new budget resolution and a potential government shutdown looms, I call upon our current Representative Russell Fry to face a critical decision: continue supporting the harmful provisions of the already-enacted "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" or stand with his constituents by backing efforts to reverse the damaging social policies.

The "Beautiful Bill", now law, wasn't the fiscal responsibility measure it was advertised to be. Instead, it has become a vehicle for transferring wealth from working families to the already wealthy while gutting essential services in communities like ours. The current budget resolution debate offers a chance to correct this grave mistake.

The Real Impact on Our District

The "Beautiful Bill’s" $2.1 trillion in cuts over the next decade are already threatening vital programs in SC-07. With 14.2% of our residents struggling with food insecurity, the $270 billion reduction in SNAP benefits isn't an abstract policy—it's causing real hunger in our communities. The 25% cut to Older Americans Act nutrition programs means thousands of seniors in our district are losing access to Meals on Wheels, often their only reliable source of nutrition.

Healthcare access, already precarious with three rural hospital closures in our district over the past five years, faces further deterioration under the "Beautiful Bill’s" $880 billion Medicaid cuts and $50 billion reduction in Medicare provider payments. In counties where up to 42% of residents rely on Medicaid, these aren't just numbers—they represent our neighbors losing their healthcare lifeline.

Child Hunger Vs. Tax Breaks for the Rich

The "Beautiful Bill's" $45 billion in education cuts, including reductions to school lunch programs, are particularly devastating in a district where 62% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.  Meanwhile, the tax provisions disproportionately benefit the wealthiest Americans while working families in SC-07 struggle to make ends meet.

A Call for Principled Leadership

Representative Fry, your constituents elected you to represent their interests, not to defend policies that harm them.  The current budget resolution offers an opportunity to reverse the "Beautiful Bill's" most damaging provisions. If compromise cannot be reached on a budget that restores funding to these essential programs, then a government shutdown becomes not just acceptable but necessary.

During a shutdown, essential services would continue—Social Security checks would still arrive, Medicare would still provide healthcare, and veterans would still receive benefits. What would stop is the continued implementation of policies that devastate our communities.

I call on Russell Fry to publicly support a budget resolution that reverses the "Beautiful Bill's" harmful cuts.  Join with colleagues from both parties who recognize that these policies are hurting real Americans.  Choose your constituents over party loyalty.

If standing firm means a temporary government shutdown, so be it. Sometimes the most responsible action is to halt the machinery of government rather than allow it to continue implementing policies that harm the very people it should serve.

Stand for our South Carolina Values

The people of South Carolina's 7th Congressional District deserve a representative who will fight for them, not rubber-stamp policies that benefit the super-wealthy while devastating working families.   I urge all people in our district to call your Congressman and let him know how you feel on this issue.   Representative Fry’s congressional office numbers are: Washington, D.C  (202) 225-9895, Grand Strand (843) 353-5377, and Pee Dee (843) 799-6880.

The voters are watching. We're waiting. And we will remember in November 2026.