Chaffetz Comes Home

Hundreds of angry constituents earlier this month confronted Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, during a town hall meeting at a high school in Cottonwood Heights, Utah. Many held signs and criticized the congressman's push to repeal the newly-named Bears Ears National Monument in southern Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

(Rick Bowmer)

On Sunday, two minutes after Rep. Scott Perry, R-York, posted a photo on Facebook from his meeting with pulp and paperworkers in York County, Troy Watson posted a comment in response.

Watson asked Perry when he planned to hold a live forum with his constituents.

Neither Perry nor anyone from his office responded, prompting Watson to post another comment just minutes later:

"Please post a schedule of your public appearances. Why do you not respond to requests to meet with constituents in a LIVE forum? You obviously have time to meet with large special interest groups (such as this one), but there's virtually zero opportunity for constituents to convene in a LIVE forum. Why is that, sir?"

Republicans like Perry are coming under fire by constituents and critics who say they're avoiding the traditional town hall meetings that usually mark legislators' first week-long recess, now underway.

Their marked absence comes at a time when many who oppose GOP plans to repeal the so-called Obamacare, recent White House executive orders and other priorities of the Trump administration have mobilized in protest.

During the first two months of the new Congress, the 292 Republicans have scheduled just 88 in-person town hall events, according to analysis from Legistorm. Of those 88 events, 35 were scheduled by Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin. By comparison, a look at the same time period during the previous Congress (in 2015) saw 222 in-person town hall events hosted by Republicans.

Watson, who lives in Spring Garden Township in York County, says he travels for business, so he needs to plan ahead. He has questions for Perry regarding plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act and has made several attempts to make contact with him. Perry has yet to respond.

Perry did hold a "virtual" town hall on Facebook last week where he answered questions posed by constituents.

"I'm concerned about seniors who don't have access to Facebook or don't do that," said Watson, who works in health care. "This idea of checking the box by pretending to meet with constituents via teleconference is outrageous. There are a lot of people who are upset about this."

Great to meet recently with pulp and paperworkers from across the country, including here in the 4th District, to... Posted by Rep. Scott Perry on Sunday, February 19, 2017

Robert Reilly, Perry's deputy chief of staff, said the congressman regularly conducts in-person town halls, as well as similar forums on Facebook and teleconferences.

"In the four years since he's been in Congress, he's conducted 18 in-person town hall meetings in all four counties he serves," he said. "In addition, he's met with hundreds of constituents who requested individual meetings with him to discuss matters before Congress. He'll continue to do so all these things in the weeks and months ahead."

In the wake of the Republican takeover of Washington, left-leaning constituents have borrowed a page out of the tea party's playbook, organizing en masse to rally and march and appear at town halls to air grievances.

One of the most contentious public receptions was seen a few weeks ago at an event near Salt Lake City when hundreds of angry constituents yelled "Do your job!" at Rep. Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House Oversight Committee.

Chaffetz called the the angry town hall meeting was "bullying and an attempt at intimidation" from a crowd opposed to Trump's election.

Lawmakers wishing to avoid such face-to-face rough ups are increasingly holding town halls online or via teleconference.

Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., last week hosted his 47th live teleconference in recent years. Constituents complained that the teleconference -- held at 2 p.m. on a weekday -- was hardly convenient for people who worked during the day.

Colleen Kocen, a member of Indivisible Coal Region, one of the many emerging progressive grassroots action groups, chided Toomey for announcing the tele-townhall just 90 minutes before it began.

"The town hall was held after weeks of inaccessibility," she said. "Senator Toomey continues to refer to dissenting constituents as 'protesters.' When constituents call his office about important issues like his vote on (Betsy) DeVos, staff respond that the Senator 'hears you, but disagrees.' During his town hall, he stressed the importance of civil dialogue, but continues to fail to hold accessible, regular town hall meetings where he can engage in any form of dialogue, or get a better understanding of the values of his constituency."

Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., has recently come under fire from constituents for not holding in-person town halls. His staff says he usually holds those during the August recess. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Toomey has blamed out-of-state callers for flooding his phone lines and filling his voice mailboxes, making it difficult for his constituents to contact him with their concerns.

Elizabeth (E.R.) Anderson, Toomey's spokeswoman, said that over the years the senator has held the teleconferences at different times of the day -- anywhere between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. -- in order to catch people at different times of the day.

"We try to move it around," she said. Toomey recently added an audio link (equipped with notifications) to open such forums to more people, she said.

Anderson said Toomey decided at the last minute, when it became evident the Senate would not be voting, to hold last week's teleconference forum. The teleconference was not an attempt to avoid protesters, but a routine function, his staff said.

"We've done these a lot," Anderson said. "It's a good use when he does have some time. It's the best way to hear from thousands of people."

Anderson said Toomey generally holds an in-person public forum during the August recess.

Kocen, who lives near Shamokin, which falls inside Rep. Lou Barletta's 11th district, says the public forums are particularly critical across the far outposts of Pennsylvania's sprawling congressional districts. She said Barletta has been markedly absent in her area.

Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Pa., spokeswoman Andrea Waldock Niethold says the Hazleton lawmaker is able to reach more constituents via online forums than in-person forums. Barletta is scheduled to hold a public forum along with state Rep. Mark Keller, R-86th, at Shippensburg University on Wednesday. The forum is scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m.

"Our area is a conservative stronghold, so we have the unique challenge of making our voices matter with regard to advocating for progressive values," Kocen said. "Our representatives often don't represent our positions, and show little interest in making themselves accessible for discussion."

Rather than wait for their congressional representative to schedule the town halls, some Pennsylvania constituents have begun to schedule public forums and invite lawmakers to attend.

Keystone Progress, did just that last week, when it helped a group of about 50 constituents from Rep. Glenn Thompson's district schedule a town hall and invited him to attend. Thompson's office declined.

"There are lots of reasons why they don't want to meet with the public," said Keystone Progress head Mike Morrill.

Morrill said the group is not deterred by the lawmaker's absence nor decline of invite.

"We are going to have a town hall meeting even if it's with empty chairs," he said.

Critics complain that teleconferences tend to be carefully scripted by staff, giving lawmakers the benefit of having a safety net against angry voters.

Andrea Waldock Niethold, chief of staff for Barletta, said his office has learned from past experiences that traditional town hall meetings are not the most effective way for the congressman to talk with his constituents.

"Unfortunately, the disruptive behavior of a few people prohibit others from having a productive conversation," she said. "Congressman Barletta is, however, always willing to sit down with anyone, including those who have opposing viewpoints."

Waldock Niethold points out that Barletta meets with constituents during his "Main Street Tours," which are public visits to downtown areas across the 11th District. In addition, she said lawmakers can reach thousands of constituents in teleconference forums compared to in-person town halls.

Barletta is scheduled to hold a public forum, along with state Rep. Mark Keller, R-86th, from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Shippensburg University on Wednesday.

In response to a request for comment from Rep. Tom Marino, his spokesman Ryan Barton issued a statement:

"Over the past two years, we have held many town hall meetings throughout our 15 county district. In addition we have also held numerous Tele-Town hall meetings that allow thousands of constituents from across the district to hear what is happening in Washington, D.C. and ask Congressman Marino questions."

Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Lehigh County, who has emerged as one of the few Republican House members to speak critically of Trump, is on his way to India this week with a congressional delegation.

Dent spokesman Shawn Millan said the representative's office has seen an uptick of contact from voters.

Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Pa., left, this week is on his way to India with a congressional delegation. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

"People should know on both sides that their actions don't fall on deaf ears," Millan said. "It's not like any member of Congress is not getting the message. There is so much in the news. How could you not get the message? People are concerned."

Millan said that the largest town hall crowd seen by the seven-term congressman was arguably one fueled by rancor over the Affordable Care Act.

Jacklin Rhoads, spokeswoman for Sen. Bob Casey Jr., D-Pa, said the office has seen an uptick in constituency interest for public forums. She said Casey has long held monthly constituency meetings in a Senate office, and that the meetings are open to the public. Casey in January was in Philadelphia to participate in a public presentation on climate change. Hundreds of people attended.

Rhoads said that Casey does not have a town hall on the immediate calendar but is looking to schedule one in coming months.

Watson stressed that he is not involved with any progressive-agenda groups, but that he was acting on his own volition as a voter.

"People have the right to disagree and to be angry," Watson said. "He has the responsibility to listen to our views and form an opinion and consensus...hopefully from input that makes sense."