1 week Ago
Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-1st District, hosts a roundtable discussion with health care providers and community advocates in Portland on March 18. Brianna Soukup/Portland Press Herald AUGUSTA — Rep.
Chellie Pingree announced Tuesday that she will hold in-person town hall events where she will discuss President Donald Trump’s first few months in office, which have ushered in an era of austerity and fears of a global trade war that could cripple the global economy. Pingree, a Democrat who represents the solidly blue 1st District, is the only member of Maine’s congressional delegation to schedule a town hall event since Trump returned to office earlier this year. The congresswoman has previously hosted virtual town halls online, which have drawn thousands of people, including 13,000 people who tuned into a virtual town town last month with Attorney General Aaron Frey.
Pingree said in a news release that the town hall events in the Camden/Rockland area on Sunday and in Westbrook on Monday are a “chance to ask questions, share your thoughts, and engage in meaningful discussions.” She said in a written statement that public interest in her virtual town halls, which drew more than 20,000 people, has shown her the importance of “being as accessible as possible.” “This is a tumultuous time for our country,” Pingree said.
“Between the litany of extreme and illegal actions taken by the administration, the escalating attacks against our state, and the economic turmoil being caused by the president’s reckless trade policies, Mainers are rightfully angry about the direction we’re headed. They want to know what their elected leaders are doing to fight back — and how we’re fighting for them.” The events are free and open to the public, but registration is required.
The exact locations will be disclosed to those who register. The town halls will also be streamed on Pingree’s YouTube channel . The move comes as more people are calling on Maine’s delegation to field questions from their constituents about Trump’s policies.
And some progressive groups have held “empty chair” town halls, where they express their concerns and pose questions to Maine’s delegation, even though they’re not there. Such events have primarily focused on Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Rep.
Jared Golden, D-2nd District, both of whom have supported parts of Trump’s controversial second-term agenda. Nationally, House Republicans were warned against holding town halls, after several events drew large crowds that were angry with Trump empowering billionaire Elon Musk to to cut federal spending and the workforce, while also accessing sensitive personal information of Americans, without congressional input. Prominent liberals, including Sen.
Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.
Y., have been holding town hall events in Republican-held districts in a concerted effort to make inroads with Republican voters, in hopes of flipping districts and regaining control of the House of Representatives. KING, COLLINS AND GOLDEN DEFEND THEMSELVES A spokesperson for Sen.
Angus King, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, did not respond to questions about why King — who has been a vocal and frequent opponent of Trump’s policies and efforts to claim more power from Congress — doesn’t hold town halls. Instead, they pointed to King’s constituent meetings and other events, including his appearance at a protest last weekend in Portland . “Senator King holds regular constituent meetings(s),” spokesperson Matthew Felling said in an email Tuesday.
“We get a lot of invites and work them into the schedule when we can find a reliable window of time. ..
. He spoke with constituents in Penobscot just yesterday, and will have another virtual constituent meeting tomorrow.” Felling said call volumes remain high and noted that more people have called, emailed and sent letters to King’s office in the last 98 days (208,857) than in the whole of last year (207,008).
A spokesperson for Collins defended her decision not to hold traditional town halls, saying that Collins meets regularly with constituents every year in her offices in Maine and Washington, D.C., while also being a guest speaker at forums throughout the state.
She last held traditional town hall events prior to the pandemic, her office said, and she held tele-town halls during the pandemic. “Senator Collins meets with thousands of Mainers every year in her office and at events across the state where constituents can express their views directly and ask unscreened questions,” spokesperson Blake Kernen said in a written statement. “She generally does not appear at town halls, especially those organized by partisan or dark money groups.
“She prefers smaller group meetings or zooms, rather than holding town halls where very few people get to speak, and the level of civility is often not that high. These forums were also difficult for people who were more reserved or less comfortable speaking in public.” Golden’s office, likewise, downplayed the importance of town hall events and said he doesn’t have any on his schedule.
“Congressman Golden meets frequently with Mainers in DC and in the District. When he meets with constituents and organizations, it’s not to check a box or play for the cameras and social media, it’s to have a real dialogue with the people he represents,” a spokesman for Golden said. “He cannot attend every event he’s invited to, so he is going to continue prioritizing honest and direct conversation with constituents, not buzzy events that can easily be commandeered to further someone else’s partisan or political agenda.
” Indivisible Cumberland County held an empty-chair town hall for Collins in Gorham last month. The group, which is part of a national network of progressive groups organizing empty chair town halls across the country, sprang up in opposition to Trump’s first term in office. The group said the event, which was moderated by former U.
S. Rep. Tom Allen, drew 500 people to the First Parish Church, while another 400 participated online.
Indivisible Cumberland County said it invited Collins to participate — virtually if needed — two weeks in advance, saying they would ensure a “civil and constructive” conversation,” but her office did not respond. Martha Leggat, one of the event organizers, said nearly three dozen people shared their heartfelt personal stories and concerns about the direction of the Trump administration. “We are not here to tear her down,” Leggat said in a written statement.
“We are here to ask her to lead — to reclaim her rightful role, stand up for democratic governance, and protect the people of Maine from what’s happening in Washington.” The last time Pingree held a town hall was in May 2017, when Trump and Republicans were trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act. In Maine and nationwide, rallies and protests are growing alongside anger, grievances We believe it’s important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers.
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