Voices not going silent on ACA concerns

The phone lines of Sen. Pat Toomey and U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan have been jammed.

The voices are getting louder. And they’re not going away.

No doubt they are ringing in the ears of our Pennsylvania Pats – Republican U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan, R-7, and Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey.

For weeks now their constituents have been clamoring for the opportunity to sit down with their representatives to talk about the policy changes being orchestrated by our newly minted 45th president, Donald Trump.

The phones – in both D.C. and their local offices here – have been jammed. Harried staffers have not been able to keep up with the avalanche of emails, texts and Tweets.

The billionaire real estate mogul turned reality TV host turned commander-in-chief has wasted little time in delivering on two of his favorite campaign targets: Repeal of the Affordable Care Act, and beefing up border security and toughening immigration laws.

Meehan, whose 7th District reaches from Delaware County to Berks, has consistently voted in favor of repeal of the signature legislation of President Obama, often referred to as Obamacare. He’s also been a booster of increased national security, including tougher immigration laws. Ditto for Toomey. At least Meehan seems cognizant of the GOP rush to judgment in tossing out the ACA. Along with many other Republicans, he’s now sounding a bit less strident tone, referring to “rescue and repair,” as opposed to “repeal and replace.”

Meehan also acknowledged that while he agreed with the need for immigration reform, he had serious issues with the way the president developed and then hastily rolled out his temporary ban on immigrants from seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the U.S.

Toomey has remained in lockstep with the president.

What neither man has been willing to do as yet is face their constituents, explain their positions, and listen to their concerns.

Toomey has been the target of weekly “Tuesdays With Toomey” protests outside his Philadelphia office.

Meehan’s Springfield, Delaware County office has been the scene of several weekend protests that have drawn hundreds. Wednesday night several hundred people showed up at a town hall in Media to discuss the future of the Affordable Care Act. There was a chair placed on the stage for Meehan. It remained empty.

The Meehan camp has hinted at something that is often suggested by the national GOP, that these events are not exactly an accident, but rather an orchestrated political effort by Democratic operatives. Wednesday night he again begged off, noting a previously scheduled engagement in Chester County.

Wednesday night’s event was set up by a Democratic activist group, Organizing for America, former President Obama’s campaign operation.

U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello, R6th District, has said the same thing in noting that he will not attend a similar event being held today in Phoenixville.

There is some truth in what they say. But you can’t explain all these people showing up, with obvious concerns, as simply partisan politics.

One of the speakers Wednesday night was a seventh-grade girl and two-time cancer survivor who shared her concerns about what repeal of the ACA would mean to her.

Across the nation many of the same Republicans who benefitted from rowdy town halls as they railed against the agenda of President Obama and Democrats are learning that what goes around, comes around.

Democrats and their allies are furiously setting up town hall meetings – and Republican members of Congress are staying away in droves.

Those few who are courageous enough to show up – such as Arkansas Republican Sen. Tom Cotton – got an earful from constituents angry over plans to dump the ACA, to Trump’s vow to build a wall on the Mexican border.

Eventually, Meehan and Toomey will have to face the music.

That’s why they are called representatives. They represent the people. Even those who disagree with their positions.

Eventually, Meehan and Toomey will need to face these people, explain their positions and listen to their concerns.

Preferably sooner rather than later.