Pearce has not slated traditional town halls
Representative has scheduled a ‘telephone town hall’ today
The only Republican in New Mexico’s three-member U.S. congressional delegation has not scheduled any traditional town hall meetings amid anger and general fears about the Trump administration in some parts of the nation.
Instead, Rep. Steve Pearce is asking constituents to sign up for a “telephone town hall” today.
Pearce spokesman Keeley Christensen declined comment on whether Pearce would hold any traditional town halls in the future and whether tense gatherings elsewhere led him to hold the telephone town hall.
Christensen said the call-in town hall had been scheduled for “around a month” because it would reach more constituents than any rural gathering.
She declined to say why Pearce hasn’t scheduled a traditional town hall meeting now that other Republican congressional members are getting high attendance at theirs.
A reporter was invited to attend the telephone town hall but was told he would not be allowed to ask Pearce questions.
Republicans who want to repeal the Affordable Care Act have faced angry pushback at constituent meetings in Michigan, Tennessee, Utah and elsewhere, even in some solidly Republican districts.
The protests are being amplified by liberal activists modeling their opposition to President Donald Trump on the tea party groups that sprang up to oppose President Barack Obama.
House GOP leaders have noticed the protests and taken time to give lawmakers advice for dealing with them.
The suggestions include treating protesters with courtesy and respect, considering hiring security teams or moderators for town hall gatherings, and even offering cookies or coffee.
New Mexico Democrats accused Pearce of being afraid to meet with constituents and trying to avoid talking about Trump’s much-debated immigration moves or Republican plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
“Congressman Pearce should meet face to face with his constituents during the upcoming congressional recess instead of doing a tele-town hall, where Pearce’s congressional staff can screen the questions for him,” said Joe Kabourek, executive director of the Democratic Party of New Mexico.
Pearce, who represents an oilrich, 70,000 square-mile district along the Mexican border, has routinely held town hall meetings in the past.
The Hobbs Republican has faced some tough questions from immigrant rights activists but has comfortably defeated recent Democratic opposition.