EJ Montini

opinion columnist



The U.S. Senate is on recess next week and several readers have left me messages saying they contacted the offices of Sen. John McCain and Sen. Jeff Flake wondering if either or both of them would be holding a town hall or two in Phoenix during the week.

They were told none were scheduled.

They asked if I might find out why.

LETTER: Can Jeff Flake show up for a town hall?

So I contacted the offices of both senators to ask. I haven’t heard back yet.

But the recent experience of other Republican officials may provide one possible explanation:

They’re afraid of you.

They're afraid of your questions

Not the physical harm kind of fear. (Although one representative apparently had to be escorted by authorities out of his own town hall.) Mostly, they’re probably afraid of the questions you have. They’re probably afraid of your concern, your anger, your frustration.

They’re probably worried that you’ll ask them about what will happen with the Affordable Care Act, specifically the many aspects of it that you’ve grown to count on. Like not being turned down for a preexisting condition. Like yearly and lifetime limits on health care expenses. Like keeping your children under your coverage to age 26. It goes on.

MORE: Trying to get a message to Flake and McCain? Good luck

And they’re probably uncomfortable with all the questions you’ll have about President Trump’s early going. The scandal of the Russian connections, in particular. The rubber stamping of just about all of Trump’s cabinet appointees, whether clearly unqualified or hostile to working people.

It’s a lot to answer for.

I can’t blame them for being a little nervous.

How to contact your senators

But then, they owe you an explanation. You elected them. You placed your trust in them.

I was asked if I would include ways to get in touch with the senators if I wrote about this. Here are they’re phone numbers and websites:

Sen. Flake’s Washington office number is 202-224-4521; his Phoenix office number is 602-840-1891, and his website is www.flake.senate.gov.

Sen. McCain’s Washington office number 202-224-2235; his Phoenix office number is 602-952-2410, and his website is www.mccain.senate.gov.

Who knows, maybe you’ll have better luck than I did.