Constituents of Rep. Peter Roskam (IL-06) were meeting in his office, prepared to talk with his staff members to voice their opposition to the repeal of the Affordable Care Act. They’d scheduled the meeting weeks in advance. A reporter from the Beacon-News showed up to report on their visit and Rep. Roskam’s staff abruptly cancelled the meeting:
When the group arrived, another staff member behind a sliding glass window criticized the group for having invited the press and said that there was only to be about eight people at the meeting.
Sandy Alexander, who arranged the meeting, said they were outraged the meeting was cancelled, especially after they offered to hold the meeting without the reporter present. She said the staff members simply walked away from them:
"I told him nobody communicated to me that the media could not come. I also told him that the press was willing to leave. This is Freedom of the Press — the media has a right to be here and we have the right to talk with the media. I really don't understand what happened here today. Shame on Peter Roskam. It is very sad that this is how he feels about his constituents," Alexander said.
"(Congress) is talking about a replacement — they need to talk to us. It can't be this hard to speak with your representative," she said.
Who’s afraid of a dozen card-carrying AARP members? Congressman Peter Roskam and his staff. And he’s not alone. The front door to Senator James Risch’s Boise office has a new sign on the door. Constituents are no longer able to walk in and meet with the senator’s staff. You now need to call and schedule an appointment. Because all you people with pre-existing conditions and children with disabilities wanting to tell your senator how damaging the repeal of the Affordable Care Act will be to you and your family are now considered a security threat. Good luck getting through to that phone line and ever getting an appointment. If it is anything like the phone lines of all the other U.S. senators and representatives, that line is busy and/or that mailbox is full.
Sorry, citizens of Idaho. Senator Risch and his staff simply aren’t interested in hearing from you.
Thursday, Feb 2, 2017 · 6:13:40 PM +00:00
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Jen Hayden
Michigan Congress Dave Trott is suddenly feeling very threatened by constituents as well. There seems to be a pattern developing here and it’s clear Republicans do not want to hear from you. Tough shit, buttercup. Your constituents aren’t going away.