Questioning congressman’s priorities

Now we know what it takes to get our local congressman to actually come out and engage in some public give and take (DLN letter to the editor, 1/3/18).

First I’ll address one of the areas that he and his staff have defended: town halls. A town hall, at its best, is an opportunity for a group of concerned constituents to engage their representative in a meaningful way, asking questions which they choose, and then following up after the representative answers.

All attendees hear everyone else’s questions and side comments, observing where the constituents are concerned, supportive, maybe even passionate about an issue. I’ve “attended” one of the Costello telephone town halls. It was of value to me only in that it made it clear that it is not a real town hall. For those who haven’t had the opportunity, you should picture something between a ‘guided’ Q and A session and a campaign event. Costello’s ‘answers’ were more like speeches where he pivoted to make his points, and often ignore the stated or implied desire of the questioner to challenge Costello, the GOP, or often the President.

Calling these phone events town halls is essentially a falsehood.

It is going to be a very difficult year for incumbents who do not communicate better, especially listening better, and then voting on behalf a growing majority of unhappy constituents. At first, we thought the only big problem was Trump, who for example is taking every opportunity to not only dismantle the clean water, clean air, clean energy policies that took so long to put into place (both parties) but to astonishingly remove responsible environmental leadership, dismantle the EPA, and defy the rest of the world’s leaders (and science) with regard to the clear-and-present danger of climate change.

But things are even worse because of the lack of leadership constraining or reversing the destructive Trump effect. The Republican party – including Costello who has voted in party lockstep on major changes like the tax law revisions – are both enabling most of Trump’s agenda and also showing no signs of trying to ‘right the American ship of state.’

All responsible Americans are for law and order, national security, and homeland defense but this President attacks the FBI and the Intel community, and tweets away America’s leadership capital and moral standing in the world. And amidst this, the GOP in Congress are increasingly either woefully silent or actively complicit.

We’re all for improved health care for all Americans, but after years of talking about replacing Obamacare, the only legislation the GOP has passed will repeal one key ACA feature which will lead to increased premiums, without improving healthcare quality, delivery, or access. And Congress tucked this repeal into the so-called middle class tax cut – which actually is not a broad, balanced cut but a truly massive redistribution of wealth to the richest Americans.

So, Representative Costello, rather than stepping out to complain about something as inconsequential as your support of a local parade, please engage with us on our priorities. If you don’t actually stand up to Trump and your party leadership’s priorities – now – or at least openly engage with us on all important issues, then you may lose your opportunity to represent us after November.

John Conrad, West Chester

Voice for Gwich’in

Ryan Costello was one of 12 House Republicans opposing the Senate proposal to allow oil and natural gas drilling in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Yet, in the end, he voted with his party — not honoring his professed beliefs — and opened up the Arctic for fossil fuel drilling.

Imagine you are the Gwich’in people, the indigenous people of the Arctic whose way of life is at stake? It’s never too late to start respecting the people who were here before us and start honoring the many treaties we have broken.

We should be moving away from fossil fuels, not looking for more opportunities to drill. Instead of embracing renewable energy, our country is maintaining the status quo by leaving the Paris Climate Agreement and other policies looking for climate solutions.

If we can’t depend on our federal government to protect our environment, let’s turn to our own state: Rep. Chris Rabb (D) in the State House and State Senator Chuck McIlhinney (R) in the State Senate recently introduced legislation that would move Pennsylvania to 100% renewable energy by 2050 — creating clean energy jobs while cutting pollution.

Contact your PA Representatives and make sure they support and cosponsor this initiative. Mary Ann Mack

Phoenixville