Big crowd greets Lujan Grisham
Immigration, health care, Trump on minds of constituents at town hall
Hundreds of local residents brought their concerns about President Trump and his policies as well as other topics to a town hall meeting hosted by U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Saturday, where the crowd poured into overflow rooms at Central New Mexico Community College’s Workforce Training Center.
Scheduled to last two hours, the Albuquerque Democrat representing the 1st Congressional District fielded questions from the left-leaning crowd, estimated at 675 people, for four hours until everyone who wanted to ask a question had the chance to do so.
In her answers, Lujan Grisham touched on numerous national issues, including immigration, health care, Russia’s influence in the presidential election, President Donald Trump, and the state of the Democratic Party.
“If nothing else, after this election, people are really following the things that they care about, paying attention and trying to get facts about them,” she said in an interview after the meeting. “There is definitely a movement to protect democracy and protect our constitutional protections.”
Last week, many Republican members of Congress who held town halls during their returns to their districts were met with protesters angry about Trump.
The crowd in Albuquerque, most of whom expressed some sort of frustration with the current state of the country, broke into applause during many of the questions and Lujan Grisham’s answers. They also hissed when she brought up Republicans by name.
She was asked repeatedly if Congress will introduce legislation that seeks to undo some of the executive orders Trump has signed or proposals he’s made during the campaign or since taking office, such as attempts to block certain immigrants from coming into the country.
“I feel like I’m drinking from a fire hose with those executive orders,” she said.
Lujan Grisham said that while legislation to reverse those proposals will be introduced, it won’t pass as Republicans have control of the Senate, House of Representatives and the White House.
So the congresswoman, who has announced that she’ll run for governor in 2018, said it will be up to states to stand up to the Trump administration with legislation. States passing stricter environmental regulations is an example, she said.
“States are going to have to say, ‘The federal government’s rule is ‘x.’ New Mexico’s requirements are ‘y,’” she said. “This is where states stand together and say clean air and clean water are fundamental to our way of life.”
Many people asked questions about health care — Republicans are seeking to overturn the
Affordable Care Act — and Lujan Grisham said she’ll vote against any legislation that would make any significant changes to someone’s health care benefits.
When asked about the proposal to build a wall between the United States and Mexico, which Trump has proposed, Lujan Grisham gave some credit to the state’s Republicans who have spoken out against it, including 2nd Congressional Rep. Steve Pearce and Gov. Susana Martinez.
“Pearce. Against the wall. The governor. Against the wall. I think most Republicans in the Legislature. Against the wall,” she said. “New Mexico is doing a good job fighting against those provisions.”
Dianne Schlies, a retired teacher in attendance, wanted to hear about education. She normally votes for Democratic candidates.
“I wanted to be supportive on a local level,” Schlies said. “I think if people were more supportive on a local level, this wouldn’t have happened; we wouldn’t have somebody like Trump in there right now.”
Gordon Byers said he’d never been a town hall meeting before with a politician but was interested in going because of policies being pushed by the Trump administration.
“I don’t agree with the economic approach, especially with regards to trade, the immigration situation,” the retired independent said. “Mostly it’s about how they are promoting treating people in general. Immigrants are one part but Trump’s approach is so callous and mean-spirited. Trump’s a bully.”