Faso says he's reaching constituents just fine

5/25/2017

By Jim Poole

Congressman John Faso feels he’s reaching constituents just fine and continues to resist holding public town hall meetings.
Under fire for not holding meetings, the first-termer for New York’s 19th Congressional District believes town hall meetings––right now, anyway––“would degenerate into screaming and sign-waving.”
Nonetheless, he’s thinking about such meetings in the future.
Critics want to meet Congressman Faso especially to hear his stance on Obamacare and the American Health Care Act. Other issues such as immigration are key, too.
The Congressman insisted last week that he’s met with constituents. He met with the political-action group Blue Streak in March, has held six editorial board meetings and been on televised meetings.
And Congressman Faso said he’s had nearly 300 meetings with individuals and small groups, and his office has received 25,000 phone calls, emails and letters since he took office in January.
Mr. Faso hasn’t held wide-open town hall meetings because he believes the push for them “is an orchestrated national effort” by the political-action group Indivisible.
“Right now, they would be screaming and shouting sessions,” Congressman Faso said of town hall meetings.
“They are not intended to be an exchange of views. With the shouting, there would be no ability to ask questions or hear answers.”
Although he’s not ready to hold meetings now, Mr. Faso said “I haven’t foreclosed the idea of doing so.
“I expect to do some open public forums at the appropriate time, but with emotions as high as they are, I doubt it right now.”
Besides the emotions of the times, another factor is the sprawling 19th District. It includes all or parts of 11 counties.
“It wouldn’t be just one meeting. Try 12,” Mr. Faso said.
“The district goes from Vermont to Pennsylvania. Having a meeting in one part wouldn’t satisfy the rest. It’s a time and resource allocation thing.”