WEST PITTSTON — State police are warning area motorists about temporary road closures and delays that will take place Wednesday afternoon during the visit of Vice President JD Vance.
Vance is slated to speak 1 p.m. at Don’s Machine Shop on Ash Street in West Pittston.
State police warn there will be closures and delays near the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, on U.S. Route 11 and other roads in the Greater Pittston area during the arrival and departure of Vance’s motorcade.
Wyoming Area Regional Police will also enforce local road closures. No parking signs were placed on utility poles on Ash Street near the business.
Preparation for Vice President JD Vance’s visit outside Don’s Machine Shop in West Pittston on Tuesday, July 15, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Preparation for Vice President Vance’s JD visit outside Don’s Machine Shop in West Pittston on Tuesday, July 15, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Don’s Machine Shop in West Pittston on Tuesday, July 15, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Vance is visiting Don’s Machine Shop to tout the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” The vice president cast the deciding vote to pass the spending bill legislation after the Senate deadlocked 50-50 on its passage.
West Pittston Mayor Angelo Alfano said he was happy Vance chose to visit Don’s Machine Shop, which opened in West Pittston in 1981 starting out in a small, one-car garage.
“They are a great family-owned and family-run business. They have been in West Pittston since they started. They are a great family. They stuck with a challenging business. It’s not easy to get workers. They do training for workers on site,” Alfano said.
Luzerne County Councilwoman Lee Ann McDermott, chairwoman of Luzerne County Republican Party, was looking forward to Vance’s visit.
“It’s very exciting to have the vice president coming to town. I don’t think he was here during the election. It will be great to finally have him in Northeastern Pennsylvania,” McDermott said.
McDermott said as a result of the “Big Beautiful Bill,” about 88% of senior citizens will not pay taxes on Social Security benefits. Additionally, there will be no tax on tips for service industry workers and no tax on overtime, she said.
“The average Luzerne County taxpayer would have faced a 22% tax hike. We wouldn’t be able to afford that,” McDermott said.
Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” cleared the U.S. Senate in a 51-50 vote on July 1, with Vance casting the tie-breaking vote. Pennsylvania’s delegation was split, with Democratic Sen. John Fetterman opposing the bill and Republican Sen. Dave McCormick voting in favor.
The bill extends the 2017 Trump tax cuts, which were set to expire at the end of the year, and allows workers to deduct overtime and tips from taxable income, along with a deduction for up to $10,000 on new car loan interest. Republicans say it will also increase immigration enforcement.
But Democrats have noted that the bill’s tax benefits for the wealthy are permanent, while the provisions on tips, overtime and car loan interest end after 2028.
They claim millions of people will lose Medicaid health coverage and food assistance.
The controversial measure will also eliminate or phase out hundreds of billions of dollars related to climate change and rescinds funds or tax credits and deductions meant for energy efficiency, clean vehicles, solar, wind and geothermal, critics argue.
This will be the second high-profile political event at Don’s Machine Shop in recent times..
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana visited the facility in October to headline a rally for Rob Bresnahan, who went on to defeat six-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright of Moosic.
Bresnanhan, R-8, of Dallas Twp., voted for the “Big Beautiful Bill,” as did the region’s other congressman, U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-9, of Dallas.