On Thursday evening, Republicans Jason Chaffetz of Utah and Diane Black of Tennessee were both met with impassioned protests at town hall events over President Donald Trump’s policies, including a promise to replace the Obama administration’s Affordable Care Act.
At a town hall event hosted by Chaffetz at a Salt Lake City high school, over 1,000 people crowded inside as hundreds more protested outside. The event was rowdy, as his own constituents continuously shouted him down over issues involving the actions of the current White House administration.
— JT Olds (@jtolds) February 10, 2017
The lawmaker was confronted about issues such as defunding Planned Parenthood, his support for Trump, and the US Education Department.
— Andy Dufresne (@theunzippedfly) February 10, 2017
"I want to get rid of Betsy DeVos!" Chaffetz said, following up on his desire to get rid of the Education Department altogether, and hand control of schools to the states.
Someone in the crowd immediately fired back, "we want to get rid of you!"
— Eric Bradner (@ericbradner) February 10, 2017
In Tennessee, Black was also confronted by her own outraged constituents.
— MJ Lee (@mj_lee) February 10, 2017
"I am an overweight person. I have to have that coverage to make sure I don’t die. People with cancer (have to have that coverage) to make sure they don’t die, and you want to take away this coverage and not replace it with anything,” 32-year-old Mike Carlson said to the lawmaker.
Black explained to the angry crowd that Republican lawmakers are working to offer tax credits so that people can pick their own insurance, which will provide for "your needs rather than what Washington says you need."
— MJ Lee (@mj_lee) February 10, 2017
“What do you expect seniors and people with disabilities with low income to do if you take away our Medicare and Medicaid that we rely on to literally stay alive?” asked Amanda Barnes, who explained that she was paralyzed from the waist down following a hit-and-run accident in a crosswalk five years ago, according to the Sacramento Bee.
McClintock responded by saying there would be a comprehensive bill to give people options.
“The answer is a comprehensive bill that rescinds Obamacare in its entirety, and replaces it with reforms that put the patient back in charge of their own decisions, and give[s] them the widest possible range of choices,” McClintock said. “And assure[s] it’s within financial reach for the majority of Americans.”
Colorado Congressman Mike Coffman, also a Republican, snuck out of a back door at his own event last Saturday, after being confronted by angry residents about the possible loss of their health care.
— Nelson Garcia (@9NewsEducation) January 14, 2017
Coffman has been a strong advocate for eliminating the Affordable Care Act, except when face-to-face with his constituents.
