Stefanik shows little consistency in talk

I was one of a group of 10 constituents to meet with Representative Elise Stefanik last Friday. We discussed a wide range of topics. Her stance on Trump’s taxes are a bit unsettling. She is in favor of lowering taxes for the ultra-wealthy. This includes lowering the passthrough tax, which would lower Donald Trump’s taxes by approximately $7 million each year. When we asked Rep. Stefanik what she would do to force Trump to release his tax returns, she touted the fact that she was the first elected official to call for him to release his tax returns. However, earlier in the week she voted against this very thing. As a member of the House Intelligence Committee, why isn’t she calling for a full investigation of Trump’s conflicts of interests?

When asked about healthcare, Rep. Stefanik stated she doesn’t support traditional block grants for Medicaid. She supports caps, which would be an immediate cut to the Medicaid program and would hurt the most vulnerable of her constituents. She also wants to defund Planned Parenthood by diverting funds to community health clinics, who would then have the burden of serving 2.5 million more patients annually nationwide.

However, she stated repeatedly that she wants to make contraceptives available in drugstores, including the “morning after pill.”

She does not support HR610 (Choices in Education Act) and supports full funding of public school, including the nutritional program already in place. Confusingly, she also supports school vouchers, but says they are wrong for District 21. Will she vote in the best interest of her district or the GOP agenda?

She seemed genuinely concerned about increased acts of hate in our community and our schools, though she didn’t indicate that she would act or speak out against it.

She is firmly against the immigration ban. She assured us that she already voted for the increased vetting that President Obama passed last term. She also urges anyone having trouble getting a visa to contact her office.

While I am still hoping for a town hall or public meeting, I appreciate this meeting and I look forward to many more conversations in our search for common ground. — Shannon Smith South Glens Falls