RICHARDSON — Thousands of boisterous, angry North Texans on Saturday challenged Rep. Pete Sessions to stop the repeal of the Affordable Care Act.

They also asked him to seriously investigate Russia's tampering in the 2016 presidential race and to squash President Donald Trump's controversial budget proposal.

But at the contentious town hall meeting at Richardson High School, a defiant Sessions stood steadfastly behind the House Republican bill to replace so-called Obamacare and said he supported much of Trump's budget, including building some sort of wall along the nation's southern border.

"I understand why you're so frustrated," Sessions said as the crowd jeered and booed his opening remarks on health care. "You don't know how to listen."

"Shut your mouth," an audience member yelled.

"We don't have to listen to your lies," one woman retorted.

Some critics were unrelenting.

"It's your job," they chanted, after Sessions wanted credit for hosting the town hall event.

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There were pockets of support.

"Let him talk," was said often, particularly when the crowd tried to shout him down.

But more often people yelled, "Pete must go."

Sessions, who had prepared for the encounter, was unflappable, standing on the stage to answer dozens of questions read aloud by Rowlett Mayor Todd Gottel, who moderated the event.

Aside from the opportunity to voice their objections to Republican policy, many people at the town hall expressed frustration with the way Sessions answered many of the questions.

"Answer the question!" was a constant refrain. "Say yes or no," was another.

"He absolutely did not answer the questions," said Cara Phillips, 24, from Dallas. "I had questions about health care and Russia, and he dodged everything."

Julie Robinson, a businesswoman from Richardson, agreed.

"He dodged a lot of questions," she said.

Irving Mayor Beth Van Duyne listens during as Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Dallas, speaks during a town hall meeting at Richardson High School on Saturday. (Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News) (Staff Photographer)

Sessions, however, was commended by some in the crowd for taking the time to hold the town hall meeting. Some Texas lawmakers have either not held such forums or resorted to less confrontational meetings through teleconferencing.

"I'd like to prove that we can do this well and right," Sessions said when he took the stage. "I intend to be forthright and honest with you."

Alicia Coddington of Rowlett gets her photo taken before the start of a town hall meeting with Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Dallas, in the auditorium of Richardson High School on Saturday. (Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News) (Staff Photographer)

Concerns about health care

Most people attending the town hall event expressed disapproval of GOP plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act and replace it with a health care proposal that the Congressional Budget Office says would leave millions of Americans uninsured.

The Republican bill, proposing the American Health Care Act, would get rid of much of former President Barack Obama's health care law, including the mandate requiring people to have health insurance or face tax penalties.

It would also kill the expansion of Medicaid, the popular program for the poor. In its place would be new tax credits that critics say would be less effective.

Republican leaders want to pass the bill before Congress' April recess, but it faces opposition from conservative leaders who don't like elements of the proposal.

Julie Ross said the Republican health care bill would "gut Medicaid" and other programs that help people like her disabled daughter, Niko Ross.

"It would cap the amount of money used to cover someone eligible for Medicaid, resulting in fewer dollars and fewer services for those most in need," she said before Sessions spoke. "These cuts will be detrimental for people with disabilities ... therefore, I call on the congressman to oppose AHCA. If it passes, millions of Americans would lose coverage."

Sessions had another view, saying the object of the new bill was to bring down health care costs.

He conceded that the bill needed some adjusting but would ultimately be approved.

"We're going to make the changes. We're going to pass the bill and we're going to repeal Obamacare," he said.

Angry constituents reacted.

"Vote him out. Vote him out," they chanted.

Sessions was undaunted, saying a new GOP health care law would "allow for a system that is not as costly."

People shout to "vote him out" during a town hall meeting with Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Dallas, in the auditorium of Richardson High School on Saturday. (Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News) (Staff Photographer)

Russia and other topics

Sessions steered away from criticizing the Trump administration over concerns that various campaign aides and surrogates, including former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, had been too close to Russia.

When asked about Russia's meddling in the presidential election, Sessions said that there would be an investigation into those matters. He also pointed out that there was no evidence that former President Barack Obama wiretapped Trump Tower last year. He did so to show that Congress was doing a fair inquiry into issues related to Russia and the Trump administration.

"We will figure out things," Sessions said. "That is what's called oversight in government."

The longtime representative from the 32nd Congressional District, an area won by Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election, seemed conflicted on Trump's proposal to build a wall along the southern border to curb illegal immigration.

He said such a wall was unnecessary in places like Big Bend. But he later added that a wall would keep out drug dealers and cartels.

Jackie Denning of Dallas gets emotional as she expresses her concern about comments from Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Dallas, during a town hall meeting in the auditorium of Richardson High School on Saturday. (Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News)

When asked whether he supported a "climate change denier" running the Environmental Protection Agency, referring to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, Sessions blamed New York and the Northeast for polluting America.

"All of us in the United States need the opportunity to have clean air and water," he said.

"Texas," someone responded, when he branded New York as a polluter.

There were areas of agreement between Sessions and his progressive constituents.

He said he supports the development of high-speed rail, would not favor cuts to Social Security and Medicare, and he appears to be against a Trump budget provision that would cut funding to the popular Meals on Wheels program for the elderly.

"That piece will not survive," he said of cutting Meals on Wheels funding.

Rep. Pete Sessions townhall We're LIVE in Richardson at a Town Hall Meeting with Congressman Pete Sessions. He is discussing the Republican plan to replace the Affordable Care Act. Read more here: http://www.dallasnews.com/business/health-care/2017/03/18/pete-sessions-hosts-town-hall-meeting-richardson Posted by The Dallas Morning News on Saturday, March 18, 2017