CASA GRANDE, AZ — Top Republican leaders visited a Frito-Lay facility in Casa Grande on Wednesday to highlight the tax cuts passed by Congress last summer and campaign for Rep. Juan Ciscomani in one of the country’s most closely watched congressional races.
House Speaker Mike Johnson and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent joined Ciscomani for a tour of the plant, where products including Cheetos and SunChips are made.
Bessent is the administration’s top economic official. He oversees the Treasury Department, which manages federal finances, collects taxes through the IRS and issues government debt. He also helps shape the administration’s policies on taxes, trade and the economy.
During the tour, Bessent spoke one-on-one with ABC15.
“The best part of the job is getting out into the country and seeing the impact our policies have,” Bessent said.
Bessent advocated for the One Big Beautiful Bill, which passed last July. He says the provisions for businesses and employees in that bill are making an impact at places like the Frito-Lay Plant in Casa Grande.
“On one side [for business], you have full expensing for new machinery, factory structures; on the other side [for employees] you have no tax on tips, no tax on overtime.”
Secretary Bessent says making many of the 2017 tax cuts permanent, including lower individual tax rates and a larger standard deduction, is giving businesses more certainty and confidence to make long-term investments.
“It’s really come together; we’re seeing investment because of the permanence that we have in these policies,” Bessent said.
Ciscomani argued that private-sector expansion, rather than the creation of additional government jobs, is the best way to grow the economy.
“What this company is doing by expanding, attracting more people—that will move us forward,” Ciscomani said.
Democrats have criticized the One Big Beautiful Bill, often pointing to Republicans rolling back credits on electric vehicles and some cuts to Medicaid.
The visit also had brought campaigning, as Johnson endorsed Ciscomani’s reelection effort and said winning this district is key to Republicans continuing to control the House.
“I am here to tell you Republicans are going to win this election,” Johnson said. “We have a great record and great candidates like Juan Ciscomani.”
Ciscomani faces Democratic challenger JoAnna Mendoza in Arizona’s 6th Congressional District, which covers parts of southeastern Arizona.
In a statement to ABC15, Mendoza criticized the visit and Ciscomani’s vote for the Republican tax and spending law.
“Congressman Ciscomani betrayed Arizonans when he voted to gut health care and jack up food costs,” Mendoza said. “Ciscomani promised to stand up for us, but he consistently puts D.C. party bosses ahead of Southern Arizonans. Our communities deserve a representative who fights for us, not for a political party or its leaders.”
Democrats have strongly criticized the law’s reductions in projected federal spending on Medicaid and SNAP food assistance. They have also opposed its elimination of federal electric-vehicle tax credits.
Arizona is expected to remain a major focus for both parties heading into the election. The 1st Congressional District in the Phoenix area and the 6th District in southeastern Arizona are expected to be key battlegrounds as Republicans try to retain their House majority and Democrats attempt to win it back.
Watch Adam Klepp's story on their visit in the player above.
Watch the press conference in the video player below:
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