Since I began my campaign for congress, there have been many blessings. Meeting people who have invested in this campaign with their time, money, sweat and tears has made me a stronger person and a better candidate. Seeing people work 12, 14 and 16 hour days for something they believe in has humbled me. However, running for congress has also given me a look behind the curtain of why people dislike politicians.
Let’s look at my opponent Bill Huizenga.
Bill Huizenga raises the vast majority of his campaign funds from corporate PACs — organizations like Exxon Mobile, Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America. Big Banks, Big Pharma, and Big Insurance PACs cut big checks. Therefore, it’s not surprising when he votes for banking deregulation and taking away healthcare from millions of Americans. I raise my campaign funds from in-state friends like Ed in Whitehall, Nikki in Spring Lake, and Linda in Holland. I also receive a number of $5 and $10 donations from people across the country who share my vision of Medicare For All and a political system that is not corrupted by money and special interests.
I believe members of congress should be true representatives of the people who elect them. That means speaking with your constituents — including those who disagree with you — and answering the tough questions. Back in early July, I shared how Congressman Huizenga insulted his constituents who attend town halls. Since then, thousands of constituents have joined me in calling for him to hold an in-person public town hall. His last in-person town hall was August 23, 2017. Town halls are important. They are part of the reason I entered this race. I attended two town halls in 2017 and challenged Congressman Huizenga on the issue of healthcare. I asked him if he believed healthcare was a right and he said no. So I decided to run against him.
I have had a wonderful time making my case to voters. I’ll gladly take questions from Republicans, Independents, and Democrats. Last week, I held a town hall in Zeeland, Congressman Huizenga’s hometown. Zeeland voted over 70% for Donald Trump in the 2016 election. Last week, over 200 people attended. I had a wonderful time meeting people and hearing their stories. Some agreed with me on Medicare For All. Some disagreed. That’s okay. This is a democracy, after all!
I was disappointed to hear that with just 24 hours notice, Congressman Huizenga announced he would be holding a telephone “town hall” yesterday, August 8th. See, congress is on recess. We know Bill Huizenga is back in the district. Yet he refused to respond to our invitation to last week’s town hall and has yet to respond to an invitation to an August 14th town hall. With the technological glitches, stall tactics, and pre-selected screening process, Congressman Huizenga managed to answer just a handful of questions in less than one hour before signing off. This is his idea of constituent engagement. It’s a true sham. I am proud to have signed the #TownHallPledge through the Town Hall Project. Congressman Huizenga has been avoiding an in-person town hall with his constituents for nearly a full year now.
One notable moment in the “town hall” occurred when Congressman Huizenga received a question from a constituent about the June 19th Republican proposal to balance the budget by cutting Social Security and Medicare. One week prior to that proposal, Congressman Huizenga had told this constituent that nobody in the house was talking about cutting Social Security and Medicare. Congressman Huizenga’s answer can best be described as verbal diarrhea. It is clear that we cannot count on Congressman Huizenga to protect Social Security and Medicare. Listen for yourself.
Unfortunately, the “setting” of a telephone “town hall” does not allow for any feedback or rebuttal. That’s unfortunate.
I hope Congressman Huizenga will reverse course soon and agree to a public, in-person town hall or debate. He has an open invitation to join me in Wyoming, Michigan at 7pm on Tuesday August 14th. What do you say, Bill?
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