HOLLAND, MI (WHTC) – Lawmakers are speaking out on the subject of in-person town hall meetings.
Nebraska’s newest Republican congressman Don Bacon tells the “Omaha World-Herald” he likely won’t hold any in-person town hall meetings because of the potential for some people to hijack the sessions.
In West Michigan, both Congressman Bill Huizenga and Fred Upton have held tele-townhall meetings where constituents can call and ask questions and get a prompt response.
An organization called Organize Kalamazoo is holding a rally at Congressman Upton’s local office today asking for a face-to-face town hall meeting.
Upton says you can’t be everywhere at once, but with tele-townhall meetings you can talk to thousands at once.
“Not everyone can get face-to-face time. There isn’t enough time in the day to do it. So this is a way that you can structure it out and yes I get some pretty tough questions. All those issues get to be addressed in a setting that reaches more people. You don”t have to pay for a venue and you don’t have to pay for security. Let’s face it,some of these things and I’ve seen them on the news, they are pretty ruckus, They even boo the Pledge of Allegiance.” Upton told WHTC News.
Organize Kalamazoo along with ProKazoo and the Michigan’s People Campaign will hold vigil outside Upton’s office all week until he schedules a face-to-face meeting.
