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Congressman, constituents have spirited back and forth at Allegany Co. meeting

FILLMORE In a muddy parking lot behind a barn, democracy showed its face in Allegany County, and it had a number of questions for Rep. Tom Reed.

On Saturday, Reed, a Corning Republican held a town hall meeting at Allen Town Hall in Filmore, and was greeted by between 200 and 300 constituents. Many people raised concerns about the current course of policy under the new presidential administration of Donald Trump.

For those opposed to some of Reeds views, the scene felt wholly appropriate.

A muck-raker is a person who exposes political corruption, and here we are standing in the mud, said Sissy Mahoney of Hornell.

It was was much the same at three town hall meetings earlier in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties.

Were always excited to have Tom out talking to folks. Its been fun, and its part of democracy, said Reeds District Director Joe Simpolinski. Weve heard concerns from all areas of national policy, and we expected a vibrant conversation.

Some commented that the event was the biggest gathering around a political issues since the Bump the Dump Campaign in the early 1990s, and some of the faces were the same too.

Participants came for many different reasons, and to hear about several different policies, but they all demanded one thing straight forward answers from their guy in the House of Representatives.

Brian Webb, of Houghton attended the meeting to deliver a message on behalf of evangelical Christians.

I really care about how our actions impact people around the world, and climate change disproportionately impacts the poorest people the most, and Im here to engage with congressman Reed on this issue on behalf of Christians and conservatives who care about issues like climate change, he said.

Mike Kuna, of Clifton Springs, made the trip to Allegany County for more details on the Republican promise to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

I just want a plan from him. I dont care when it happens. Something needs to be in place," Kuna said.

I want to have a conversation with you, but first and foremost, I want to listen, Reed began, speaking into a bullhorn, so the massive and rowdy crowd could hear him.

Other local organized groups also made their presence felt, including Southern Tier Action Together.

Working with different activist groups in the 23rd Congressional District, weve crafted questions we hope will create dialogue and meaningful conversation between constituents and their elected official, the groups said in a statement issued on Saturday. Were people who care deeply about our towns and the well-being of our neighbors; some of us were born here, some came for a job, some came back because of love of this special part of New York State.

Topics ranged from the presidents tax returns, to Trump's ties to Russia, to fears that a Republican controlled government will abolish the Environmental Protection Agency.

Its just not there, Reed said of the Russian issue, expressing confidence after it was reported he had direct conversations with the president reading the allegations earlier this week.

However, the meeting was largely dominated by opposition to the proposed repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Andrea Meyers of Hornell was one of the fortunate people who got to question Reed.

Im a small business owner who works two to three part time jobs to supplement my income. My husband works for the City of Hornell. I have a step-son that has Downs syndrome. My family has insurance because of the Affordable Care Act because the citys insurance is far to expensive to afford. What are you going to do for me when I lose my insurance? she asked.

Reed did not waiver in his previously stated position of being in favor of repeal.

Reed said, We need to talk to (Hornell) Mayor (Shawn) Hogan about that. He then said that tax credits would be available under the Republican plan to subsidize costly insurance. He also promoted health savings accounts.

Reed was peppered with chants of You work for us and Do Your Job throughout, as people expressed their dissatisfaction with his stance. Several supportive spectators couter-chanted USA, USA, USA."

While some left dissatisfied with the depth to which Reed was able to answer some of their questions, most credited him for showing up in the first place, including Dr. Gary Ostrower, Reeds former professor at Alfred University.

This is democracy at its best, he said. The fact that Tom Reed held this meeting at all is impressive. Many Republican congressmen have bailed out because of fear or lack of courage. Mr. Reed showed up and answered questions for well over an hour.

There was a level of anger voiced in the crowd, but it stayed peaceful.

I think we have a president who is proving himself unfit to govern a free people, he said. He expresses an absence of integrity that is corrosive to a democracy, and to the extent that Congressman Reed supports him, I wasnt surprised at some of the anger.

Several groups, including members of Indivisible Hornell, said they would extend an invitation to Reed to attend a town hall meeting in the Hornell area in the near future.

Reed will be holding another round of town hall meetings in March, however specific dates and times are yet to be decided and announced.

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Participation in democracy - Hornell Evening Tribune