Congressman Rudy Yakym recently sent flyers to 2nd District households boasting that his congressional office helped 10,000 constituents, resolved 3,000 constituents’ cases, and assisted 700 veterans/active–duty service members in 2025.
Congressional offices receive thousands of emails and calls a day. Callers may be seniors requesting help with Medicare or Social Security benefits. Veterans might seek help with housing or healthcare. Students may inquire about nominations for military service academies.
Given that Yakym defines himself as a fighter, I am curious about why his recent flyers focus on constituent services that the congressional office works on, but make no mention of Yakym fighting for what Hoosiers really care about in three major policy areas: the Big Beautiful Bill, the Tariff War, and SNAP benefits.
Big Beautiful Bill
Yakym professed that he wrote 80% of last year’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” which gave billionaires a large tax cut, left 22 million Americans without Medicaid benefits, reduced funds to rural hospitals, and vastly expanded funds for ICE, detention, and deportation.
Having your office help 10,000 constituents means significantly less when the trade-off is harming 22 million Americans, saddling our future with a $3.4 trillion deficit.
Trump’s Tariff War
On Oct. 10, 2025, the president launched a trade war with China, hiking tariffs on U.S. exports, including soybeans, by an additional 100%. The tariffs jeopardized Indiana farmers’ soybean sales to China—their largest market, which in turn threatened some farms with financial ruin. All 11 counties in the 2nd District grow soybeans.
Did Yakym convey to the president his displeasure with tariffs that could devastate the district farmers he was elected to represent? Where were Rubber Stamp Rudy’s outcries on behalf of his constituents? Where was Rudy at all?
We have silence from Yakym on that front. So, we can reasonably assume Yakym did nothing. We know that Rudy wasn’t representing the farmers of our district or even listening to them.
Before the tariffs went through, Trump made a deal with China—but by then, China had purchased soybeans from Argentina, leaving Indiana farmers in a crunch. In December, Trump offered U.S. farmers a $12 billion bailout, but that does not cover the losses they bore from a problem the president created.
Yakym’s silence reveals a lot about his allegiance. He didn’t stand up for Hoosier farmers, leaving this group of constituents to suffer the consequences.
SNAP Food Benefits
During last fall’s government shutdown, a deadline loomed for whether SNAP food assistance for 42 million hungry Americans would end. With at least 64,000 constituents relying on SNAP, did Yakym urge the president to extend the program?
No.
Instead, he allowed two weeks to pass without SNAP payments. And local communities were forced to step in with whatever resources they could manage to help their neighbors.
No previous administration ever refused to feed Americans during shutdown negotiations.
Facts matter. Truth matters.
Maybe the flyer should read: In a crisis, do not count on Rudy.
A member of Congress advocates for their constituents. Maybe the congressman has forgotten his allegiance is supposed to remain with the Constitution and his 753,000 constituents—no one else.
As for the $85 million he claims to have returned to the 2nd District? It’s ghost money —dollars the government saved by enacting the Big Beautiful Bill cuts. Unfortunately, Yakym’s flyer didn’t enumerate the harms it has caused constituents.
What will I do differently?
As your representative, I will do it much differently. I will speak out. I will listen to the needs of my constituents and represent them. I will oppose harmful actions to the Hoosiers of Indiana’s 2nd District. In short, I will not cater to any president, especially one who proposes reckless policies that harm constituents.
My duty will always be to my constituents, regardless of their party affiliation.
I believe in the rule of law.
I also believe that we feed Americans. Period.
We live in the wealthiest country on Earth, yet when the Trump Administration refused to feed hungry Americans, Yakym did nothing. That’s not who Americans are. We care for each other.
I will always listen and put people before politics.
I will always work for YOU.