Residents hold town hall for Meehan in absentia
MEDIA » More than 50 residents of U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan’s, R-7, district gathered in front of the Delaware County Courthouse Saturday afternoon to tape an in absentia town hall.
The congressional recess began with Meehan scheduled to attend a fundraiser in Laguna Niguel, California, and they posed their questions to a blowup doll donning a Meehan mask and beach attire. The filming will be forwarded to his staff and available online.
“These are the questions and thoughts we could have presented to him in person given the chance,” noted a press release from Delco PA Indivisible, one of the sponsors of the rally. “Congressman Meehan continues to decline to hold town halls with his constituents during the recess and instead he will be attending an event at the Ritz Carlton.”
The town hall was preceded by a rally in support of Medicaid and the coverage and consumer protections of the Affordable Care Act similar to “Our Lives are on the Line” National Day of Action events held across the country. The local rally, also supported by MoveOn. org, MomsRising and PHAN (Pennsylvania Health Action Network), came a day after the U. S. Senate defeated the “skinny” Obamacare repeal bill, followed by a tweet from President Donald Trump to “let Obamacare implode.”
“Trump is trying to sabotage it and there seems to be indifference within the Republican Party,” said Peggy Wilson, of Upper Darby. “People need heath care and we want a bipartisan discussion to fix the problems of Obamacare.”
Those in the crowd highlighted what they perceived as the most important facets of health care, such as cost-sharing reductions, Medicaid expansion and preventing Medicare reductions. Arline Schoenberger, of Glen Mills, noted people who are healthy and wealthy are afforded health care not available to “Joe Schmo.”
“The president took the oath of office to uphold the law,” she added. “The ACA is the law.” Many of the questions continued in the health care vein, such as Meehan’s reaction to Sen. John McCain’s, R-Ariz., “nay” vote regarding the repeal, future health care debates on issues such as pre-existing conditions (“who doesn’t have a preexisting condition,” said one woman) and medical assistance for children, and whether his stance will change during future discussions.
The deliberation surrounding Medicaid is essential to Carole Nebhut, of Aston, whose 29-year-old son, Alex, suffers from cerebral palsy. She noted his surgeries, physical therapy, day program, transportation and wheelchair are funded through the program.
“He has a life because of Medicaid,” she said to the camera. “I’m just sorry you are not here to see this handsome young man.”
The ralliers also posed queries about Meehan’s stance on challenges to the LGBTQ community in light of the president’s tweet that transgender Americans would no longer be permitted to serve in the military, Meehan’s votes on ozone standards and allowing internet service providers to sell personal information and his continued support for the president. He was also reminded that constituents would remember changes in his voting record when he seeks re-election in 2018.
“I think you work for us,” said Mark Fifer, of Radnor, of a member of the interfaith social justice organization Power Metro. “You need to work to create a health care program that will help everyone and listen to your constituents on all issues.”