While 1st District Congressman Andy Harris has hosted dozens of town hall meetings since he took office in 2011, it is unlikely that he has ever experienced anything like what took place at Chesapeake College Friday evening. With a standing room only crowd over 900 in size, the Congressman attempted to respond to a number of pre written questions on health care, the Trump administration, immigration reform, and the health of the Chesapeake Bay to a generally hostile crowd of Mid-Shore residents.
Here are a few highlights from this evening’s event.
This video is approximately fourteen minutes in length. A broadcast of the entire meeting will air on the Avalon Foundation’s MCTV in Talbot County Monday at 3pm and 9pm.
Bill Anderson says
Pretty sad that supposed adults decline to remain reasonably silent for the congressman to make his presentation, irrespective of whether or not you are of his political party or viewpoint. I was once in an audience when something similar occurred, and the speaker made this remark” “I am here not for myself, but to provide information to you.” He then laid down his microphone and walked away. Maybe congressman Harris should have done the same thing. End of story.
Robert Chauncey says
I disagree with virtually everything Rep. Harris said at Chesapeake College. But I was ashamed of many audience members. Yelling does nothing but make us feel good. Instead of shouting, engage your neighbors and friends. Write letters. Make phone calls. Work with organizations you believe in. Do what you can to defeat Rep. Harris in 2018. But do it with logic, reasoned discussion, and respect for those with whom you disagree.
Deirdre LaMotte says
I attended this “Town Hall” and was appalled at Harris’ smugness and avoidance of directly answering questions. He began with attempting to lecture the audience
With his radical ideology via power point. Perhaps he was trying to eat into the alloted hour he granted us. It didn’t work and was not the reason anyone
was there. We wanted him to have to explain his dismal voting record that reflects his being financed by the Koch Brothers’ Club for Growth, the NRA and
Big Pharma. He failed. We need him out of Congress because he does not remotely represent the interest of our District. It is all trickle down nonsense and
spineless devotion to this Administration. Yuck.
Robert Chauncey says
Just one point made by Rep. Harris: He argued that Medicaid failed to produce positive results among the 20% of the population who receives it. The Kaiser Family Foundation disagrees. In their report “What is Medicaid’s Impact on Access to Care, Health Outcomes, and Quality of Care? Setting the Record Straight on the Evidence” they conclude: “Consistently, research indicates that people with Medicaid coverage fare much better than their uninsured counterparts on diverse measures of access to care, utilization, and unmet need. A large body of evidence shows that, compared to low-income uninsured children, children enrolled in Medicaid are significantly more likely to have a usual source of care (USOC) and to receive well-child care, and significantly less likely to have unmet or delayed needs for medical care, dental care, and prescription drugs due to costs.” (https://kff.org/report-section/what-is-medicaids-impact-on-access-to-care-health-outcomes-and-quality-of-care-setting-the-record-straight-on-the-evidence-issue-brief/) Please read the issue brief for additional information.
Cynthia Stafford says
Representative Harris’s comments make it clear that the Trump Health Care Act is not about health or care. It is only about money.
Gren Whitman says
Dr. Harris does not understand that he’s paid to listen to us, not to lecture us.
Virginia Davis says
I was unable to attend this town hall. I just watched the video–no WONDER the crowd was so vocal!!! Harris attempted to control the discussion and limit available time by explaining self explanatory slides. He made no attempt to listen, just kept blundering ahead with his own prerecorded views. I doubt he learned anything, except that people are very well informed and VERY upset, and that his approach was not productive.