Rep. Lee Zeldin held a live conference call with constituents last night in an effort to answer a rising crescendo of protesters‘ demands for a town hall meeting.
More than 9,100 constituents participated in the call, according to a press release issued by the congressman last night.
The call was to begin at 7 p.m. but got started a few minutes late; it lasted a little more than an hour including the congressman’s opening statement about his goals in the 115th Congress and five interactive poll questions, where he asked participants to vote using their phone keypads.
The congressman fielded questions from 12 people — including three people Zeldin said submitted questions online — covering a variety of subjects, including health care, anti-Semitism, immigration, climate change, the transgender bathroom controversy, his support of President Donald Trump, and his votes supporting measures to allow the disposal of coal mining wastes in streams and to allow the concealed carry of handguns in New York by people from states that allow concealed carry.
Constituents interested in participating were asked to pre-register on the congressman’s website with an email and phone number.
“Approximately 100,000 homes were called,” according to Zeldin’s press release. It was not clear from the press release whether a robo-call inviting people to join the call went out to thousands of homes in the district in addition to the people who pre-registered.
The call was live-streamed on the congressman’s Facebook page, where 720 people listened online, Zeldin communications director Jennifer DiSiena said last night. A recording of the call is posted on the congressman’s YouTube channel here.
What the congressman had to say
Transgender students
In response to a question about the reversal of an Obama administration directive regarding transgender students’ use of school bathrooms and locker rooms:
“I support the president’s decision to reverse the directive sent out by the last administration.”
Zeldin said that while he appreciates “how difficult this topic is on both sides of the issue” his concern as a former prosecutor is, if people can use whatever facility they say aligns with their “internal sense of gender,” prosecutors would not be able to prosecute a man in a women’s room “without proving that their internal sense of gender is different than what they say.”
“I don’t support discrimination and I want LGBTQ people to know that,” Zeldin said.
President Trump and anti-Semitism
In response to a question asking how he could “condone” the president’s belated condemnation of anti-Semitism “that has been going on throughout his campaign and now his presidency”:
“I have been critical of the statement on Holocaust Remembrance Day that didn’t mention Jews… the bomb threats and desecration deserve the strongest condemnation.”
Zeldin said while it’s important to remember that millions of others were also murdered by the Nazi regime, “it is important to remember that Adolf Hitler and the Nazis were trying to exterminate the entire Jewish religion.”
He noted that when asked at a recent press conference about the Holocaust Remembrance Day statement that omitted reference to Jews, the president sounded “almost like he was answering a different question.” Now he is speaking out, Zeldin said.
“Morally it’s the right thing to do to speak out whenever there’s violence, threats, or destruction of personal property, sacred personal property,” he said. “Speaking out at those moments is a leadership opportunity to connect with the people, including those who didn’t vote for you.”
Coal-mining waste disposal
Asked why he voted for a resolution that rescinded a regulation restricting the dumping of coal-mining waste in streams, Zeldin defended his vote by stating his belief that the regulation was “passed at the 11th hour, rushed through before [Obama] left office.”
He said the administration should not “be passing rules that eliminate an entire way of life and an energy that they rely on.” He wants to reduce reliance on foreign oil and supports “an all of the above energy approach,” he said.
“Ideas like this should be passed by Congress. The executive branch shouldn’t be acting like Congress,” Zeldin said.
Affordable Care Act repeal
Asked by an online participant, “How will you make sure my lower middle class family will be able to afford health insurance especially since my job doesn’t provide me with insurance?” Zeldin said he could not speak to the caller’s particular situation without knowing if she is receiving benefits through New York’s expanded Medicaid program or some other plan.
New York was one of about half the states in the country that expanded its Medicaid program with the passage of the Affordable Care Act. “In New York State we spend over a billion dollar a week on Medicaid,” Zeldin said. He said New York spends more on Medicaid than the states of Texas, Illinois and Florida combined.
He said an “outright repeal” of the ACA would cost New York billions. “One of the things the New York Republican delegation has been working on as part of this repeal and replace effort is fighting for a baseline that’s going to greatly mitigate the impacts to New York State with regard to Medicaid costs, so we don’t have people who are currently receiving coverage in a position where they might lose their Medicaid coverage,” he said.
“There are individuals making tens of millions off the Medicaid system. We need to become more efficient so we can give the best possible care to those who need it most and not overburden taxpayers,” Zeldin said.
A caller asked how he would pay for continuing coverage for pre-existing conditions and for adult children up to age 26, but Zeldin did not provide a direct answer.
He said there are “three buckets” for reform. One is the budget reconciliation bill which he said was expected to be introduced in the next week or two.
“For those interested, what’s being vetted behind the scenes is the Tom Price repeal and replace bill, Zeldin said, referring to the Empowering Patients First Act of 2015, introduced in the House by the Georgia Republican Trump tapped as health and human services secretary.
Price’s proposal would: scrap Obamacare, provide fixed tax credits tied to a person’s age rather than income; provide for pre-existing condition coverage, as long as coverage has been continuously maintained for 18 months before choosing a new policy; expand the use of health savings accounts; allow insurers to sell policies across state lines; eliminate mandates for comprehensive coverage by all policies.
Zeldin’s second “bucket” is the power of the secretary of health and human services “to make sure there’s a smooth transition, working with the states, working with providers.”
“The third bucket,” he said, “is whatever else needs to get done legislatively that can’t get done in reconciliation or if there’s a lesson learned after the fact.”
Zeldin noted that the legislative option would require 60 votes in the Senate, “so it needs bipartisan support.”
Congressional criticism of the president
Zeldin’s fifth call came from a man who was angry at “the spineless members of Congress who took their shots at our president,” singling out senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham.
“What do you think of these congressmen and senators slamming our president in order to advance their own careers?” asked a man identified as Gerard.
Zeldin politely deflected.
“There were many times I disagreed with Barack Obama. I didn’t vote for him but he was my president. Donald Trump I did vote for and he is my president as well. I can’t speak for everyone, their motives or mentality,” he said. “I deeply respect Sen. McCain for his service in uniform. It’s up to the people of Arizona who they choose to represent them.”
Future of Medicare
Asked by the next caller if Congress will cut Medicare for people who are approaching retirement age, Zeldin said the government should figure out how to strengthen Medicare, to improve services and make sure it’s solvent for generations to come.
“We must preserve and protect Medicare for seniors relying on it and should not do anything to weaken Medicare for those who are retired or close to retiring,” Zeldin said.
Support of the REINS Act
An online participant asked why Zeldin supports the REINS Act.
“Some regulations sound good and are probably well-intentioned,” Zeldin said, but they can have devastating impacts on businesses. They need to be “vetted out,” he said.
Asked why he has cosponsored a bill requiring all states to honor concealed carry rights of out-of-state residents, Zeldin said he supports the Second Amendment.
“I’m going to be candid. I’m never going to try to be all things to all people. I do support our Second Amendment. I do support the concealed carry legislation.”
Presidential disclosure and ethics reform
Asked if he would support a bill to require all presidents to release their tax returns and put all assets in blind trust, Zeldin did not answer directly but said these demands are tactics of “hyper-partisan” Democrats. They even want people testifying before committees “to provide these details,” Zeldin said.
People who are “pushing these reforms,” he said, “they can’t wait to impeach the president. They don’t want the president to succeed.” He mentioned seeing signs along the inaugural parade route demanding Trump’s immediate impeachment. “The guy just got sworn in,” he said.
“The people introducing these things, they want to impeach him. I can’t support that.”
ACA coverage mandate
Another question about the ACA related to removal of the controversial mandate to have insurance.
“Without the mandate, how do we ensure that healthy people will sign up and not just wait till they get sick?” asked Jacqueline.
“Right now, we have an issue with a lot less healthy people signing up than what was predicted,” Zeldin said. “It was an issue before the ACA, and under the current law and it will be in the future. People who are healthy think they can save their money, but that can hurt you.”
Climate change
A question about climate change concerned the “direction” that may be taken by the bipartisan climate solutions caucus, of which Zeldin is a member.
Zeldin said “we all want clean water” regardless of partisan affiliation. He said he wants to see the caucus focus on solutions rather than the “political charged” debate over whether climate change exists. “The debate itself has prevented a healthy substantive dialogue,” Zeldin said.
Northport VA Hospital
The final question of the night — which took up the last eight minutes of the call — came from a woman identified as Rachel who talked about her brother’s problems with the Northport VA hospital.
“Veterans should be able to take their veteran’s benefit to any provider they wish,” Zeldin said, after telling Rachel to contact his district office. “I strongly support that idea.”
Frustrated constituents weigh in on Facebook
A number of people posted complaints on the congressman’s Facebook page that they had registered for the tele-town hall but had not gotten called. Others complained that their call did not come until well into the session — as late as 7:45 p.m. for Allyson Brodsky-Matwey.
Many more were frustrated by the format and the relatively few questions answered by the congressman in the hour-long call.
“One hour for 9,000-plus people is insufficient,” wrote John Cranmer, who was among those complaining about the limited number of people who got to ask a question.
“Tele-town halls are a complete cop-out,” wrote Molly Blake Michaels. “Don’t be a coward – host a real town hall and actually deal with the people who elected you.”
Facebook user JRod Rooney said he got to ask his question but didn’t feel Zeldin answered it. “When I tried to intercept to clarify my point, I realized I was muted out of the conversation and not able to offer up any further thoughts or responses,” he wrote. “That is not how a town hall works… I’m disappointed by this forum since I believe it is manipulated with the intent to censor rather than truly hear ALL of our concerns.”
“That was not a town hall, complained Jason Kushner on Facebook. “It was a one-way teleconference. Screened calls, muted callers, lack of dialogue.”
But some defended the congressman’s choice.
“Town halls are becoming unruly and violent due to the paid and/or schooled agitators who don’t care what he says, they just want to yell, scream and cause havoc,” wrote Chris Revere.
“So why should he subject himself or his followers to disorderly conduct and sometimes criminal behavior. If you need something Lee and his staff are more than happy to help you. It’s disgraceful the way some adults act…and we wonder why a lot of children act the way they do….disrespectful and rude….just like their parents.”
‘I am willing to meet with absolutely anyone’
Zeldin, who said he has held a number of telephone town halls in the past, dating back to when he was a state senator, did not indicate whether or when he would hold another. His spokesperson made clear earlier this week that Zeldin believes a traditional town hall meeting in the current political environment would be unproductive, because it would likely be disrupted by activists. Zeldin has opted for one-on-one and small group meetings instead.
The congressman has scheduled mobile office hours next Friday, March 3 at the Hagerman Fire Department, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 510 Oakland Avenue, East Patchogue.
“I am willing to meet with absolutely anyone,” Zeldin said, urging concerned constituents to call his main district office at 631 289-1097 or his Riverhead office at 631-209-4235 to set up an appointment.
