Facing Barrage Of Furious Town Hall Questions, GOP Lawmakers Have Few Answers
“If I could give you an answer today, I would, but I can’t,” Wisconsin Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner said in the latest example of Republicans having to dodge questions about the future of the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, the myth of death panels makes a return, and one prominent lawmaker says these town hall protests won't alter the future of repeal.
The New York Times:
Angry Town Hall Meetings On Health Care Law, And Few Answers
Michelle Roelandts had a question for her congressman: If the Affordable Care Act and its premium subsidies were repealed, what would happen when her daughter turns 26 this year and needs to get her own health insurance while attending law school? Representative Jim Sensenbrenner, a durable Wisconsin Republican who has served in the House since 1979, had little to offer in response. “If I could give you an answer today, I would, but I can’t,” Mr. Sensenbrenner said at a town-hall-style meeting on Saturday, where about 70 people packed a room at the Pewaukee Public Library. (Kaplan, 2/13)
Bloomberg:
In Tense Obamacare Town Hall, GOP Lawmaker Calls Fears ‘Genuine’
Representative Gus Bilirakis was determined to walk into his health-care town hall in Florida through the front door -- even though local deputies suggested a side door might be a safer route. "Nah," said the sixth-term Republican congressman, of the notion of keeping such distance from constituents angry and confused about plans by President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans to repeal and replace Obamacare. "Their worries are real. And their stories are genuine," Bilirakis said Saturday during a car ride to the event at a local government office in New Port Richey, near Tampa. (House, 2/14)
The Washington Post:
The Strange Tale Of How A False 2009 Obamacare Claim Ended Up In A Viral 2017 Video
Bill Akins achieved his 15 minutes of fame — and, he says, death threats — after a clip of him making this statement at a Florida town hall when viral. The audience immediately hooted him down, and he responded by saying, “Okay, children. All right, children.” In 2009, former Alaska governor Sarah Palin first promoted the idea that the emerging law contained death panels, referring to a provision that would allow Medicare to pay for doctor’s appointments for patients to discuss living wills and other end-of-life issues. (Kessler, 2/14)
The Hill:
GOP Chairman: Town Hall Protests Won't Alter ObamaCare Repeal Plans
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-Texas) said Monday that crowds of people at town halls across the country worried about the fate of ObamaCare will not alter Republican plans to repeal and replace the law. Brady, a key player on healthcare, was asked by reporters if the pro-ObamaCare sentiment at town halls would “have any impact to the Republican push to repeal and replace.” "I don't think it will,” Brady replied. (Sullivan, 2/13)
Roll Call:
Chris Collins Will Not Hold Town Halls
Despite his colleagues’ continued attempts, New York Republican Rep. Chris Collins has no intention of holding a town hall meeting. “Because what you get are demonstrators who come and shout you down and heckle you. They are not what you hope they would be which is a give and take from people actually interested in getting some facts,” Collins told WGRZ-TV in Buffalo. Collin’s comments come in the wake of an increase of protests at town halls held by Republican members of Congress since President Donald Trump’s election. Many in the audience are loudly voicing concerns about President Donald Trump’s policies and GOP plans to repeal Obamacare. (Prater, 2/13)
