Feb 19

Feb 19 NY-22 Minute: All 26 questions & responses from Rep. Brindisi's NY Mills townhall By Luke Perry

This evening Rep. Anthony Brindisi held a town hall in New York Mills. Similar to past town halls, such as New Hartford, Cazenovia, and Rome, Brindisi began by introducing his committee assignments, and then discussed four bills that he worked to enact into law.

Brindisi also highlighted bills the House passed and believed the Senate should adopt. HR-3 (related press release here), for instance, would lower drug costs by allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices and cap out-of-pocket expenses for prescriptions drugs at $2,000 per year.

Brindisi concluded his introductory remarks by stating that he wants everyone to feel heard, and hoped to develop mutual respect, even with those who disagree with him. Several topics were discussed, including healthcare, student loan debt, abortion, veterans affairs, and climate change.

1. Abortion: How can you support abortion as a Catholic?

Brindisi acknowledged this was a sensitive issue and recognized “a woman’s right to choose” and “have a say over her own body.” He did not believe abortion should be unlimited, as the audience member alleged. Brindisi said he opposes abortions in the third trimester of a pregnancy unless the mother’s life is in danger.

2. Healthcare coverage: Where do you stand on Medicare-for-all?

“I believe health insurance should be a right for everybody,” Brindisi replied. “I don’t think it should be a privilege for those who can afford it.” He said that many people are happy with their private coverage and this should not be abolished.

Brindisi believes Congress should be working to address drivers of healthcare costs, such as prescription drug costs. He also said the Affordable Care Act needs to be defended, not weakened or dismantled, to preserve important elements, such as ensuring people with preexisting conditions are not denied coverage.

3. An audience member expressed concern over the lack of federal support for health problems faced by Vietnam veterans

Brindisi thanked this Vietnam veteran for his service. He cited how Congress passed legislation to assist veterans affected by Agent Orange, but the current Office of Management and Budget in the White House has impeded enactment, citing the cost involved. Brindisi said he was among 80 members of Congress who petitioned Mick Mulvaney to allow this assistance to proceed.

4. College tuition: An audience member said that colleges and universities should provide part of their endowments to help pay off student loan debt, not taxpayers

“College debt, in general, is a major problem across the country,” Brindisi said. College needs to be made more affordable instead of “wiping out student loans.”

“The interest rates set by lenders are out of whack compared to other types of loans,” Brindisi said.

Brindisi said he wants to incentivize alternative educational programs, such as apprenticeships, that provide more targeted educational opportunities at a lower overall cost.

5. Broadband access in rural areas: An audience member lives ten miles from Utica in a rural community and expressed concern about not being able to get reliable internet service

Brindisi believes it is necessary for constituents to have broadband and effective cell phone coverage. One of the problems is that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) does not currently have effective mapping of broadband access. After meeting with the FCC commissioner, Brindisi was told he could develop his own mapping system to help with this. His office has begun to survey broadband access throughout the district.

Brindisi also cited legislation he proposed requiring internet providers, like Spectrum, to provide more transparency about how many customers they have and what they are charging. He said the bill is stalled in the Energy and Commerce Committee because that is “where Spectrum’s lobbyists want it.” Brindisi pledged to continue to speak out against Spectrum, which he believes is taking advantage of customers.

6. Student loan debt: An audience member called for loans to be consolidated more than once so a lower interest rates can be secured

Brindisi was unfamiliar with a limitation on the number of times someone can reconsolidate. He asked for the constituent’s contact information to follow up.

7. Healthcare: An audience member urged Brindisi to support Medicare-for-All

Brindisi expressed respect for this person’s point of view, while also respecting people in the room who are happy with their private insurance. He thinks a public option and more competitiveness in the healthcare market is a good start.

8. Local flooding: What can be done to enhance the ability of localities to address this problem?

Bridinsi recognized an increase in frequency and intensity of floods in recent years, which “has been a tough thing for communities to deal with.” He was upset that the Federal Emergency Management Agency denied individual assistance to homeowners and businesses following the Halloween storm, which New York State has appealed.

Brindisi said climate change is resulting in more water-related damage throughout the district. He is working on an infrastructure bill to provide more aid to people impacted by flooding and support mitigation efforts.

9. Homelessness for Veterans

“We should not see veterans living on the streets,” Brindisi said. More affordable housing is necessary, which Brindisi believed should be part of an infrastructure bill. He cited local organizations, such as the Veterans Resource Center, who are doing good work addressing this issue.

10. Income inequality: An audience member expressed concern about being the first generation financially worse off than the previous generation

Brindisi believed large, corporate monopolies need to be broken up and prohibited from merging in the first place. He also called for further educational opportunities and training programs to enhance employment related skills.

11. Prescription drug costs

Brindisi believed HR-3 will help people struggling with high prescription drug costs. He expressed concern about how generics are not able to get to market because of “junk science.” HR-3 will help address this as well.

Brindisi was critical of CVS buying other major pharmacies nationwide, squeezing out local pharmacies, and striving to control the market.

12. Healthcare cost: An audience member referenced living in Europe and contended the system in Belgium he experienced was “fantastic”

“The cost of healthcare is going up,” Brindisi said, and that needs to be addressed. He is open to learning from other countries about how to do this.

13. Climate crisis

“I want to get us to zero carbon emissions” and “renewable energy” as quickly as possible, Brindisi said. His focus is supporting and developing legislation that is particularly helpful to rural communities.

14. Misconduct by the Executive Branch: What are you going to do as our representative to curtail this president?

Brindisi said he will work with the president to help constituents where he can. His job is also to stand up to the president when he “does something to hurt this country, state or district.”

“I don’t believe the president should be talking about the judiciary as he is right now,” Brindisi said. President Trump’s Tweets involving the Justice Department has generated controversy in recent days, including prompting concern from Attorney General William Barr.

Brindisi also believes you have to compromise sometimes to get things done, but Congress should seek to reassert some of the authority it has given to the presidency over time.

15. Abortion: Is the baby in a human a woman?

“I will leave it to the scientists to decide that,” Brindisi replied.

Cross talk ensued among audience members.

Brindisi recognized the constituent has strong personal beliefs on this issue. “I’m sorry we disagree on this,” Brindisi said.

16. Immigration: Is documentation important to you?

“Yes, of course,” Brindisi replied. He explained that undocumented people in the United States currently should have an opportunity to “earn citizenship.”

“I don’t want to see people come across the border illegally,” Brindisi said. He also recognized that people are fleeing other countries for several valid reasons and conditions in their home countries should not be ignored.

There needs to be an adjudication process “so people are not living in cages down at the Southern border.”

17. Difficulty getting affordable mental health services: What are we doing to improve this?

Brindisi said “we need more mental health professionals” in our communities. He discussed a rural mental health bill he proposed, co-sponsored by Rep. Katko (R, NY-24), which is designed to particularly help farmers.

18. K-2 crisis (synthetic marijuana)

“It seems like we’re one step behind all these drugs that are coming out,” Brindisi said. He called for more education about the dangers. Brindisi is working on a resolution to define substance abuse as a health condition to help minimize stigma associated with drug addiction.

19. Climate change: What is the government’s role in addressing this on a local level?

Brindisi visited with his environmental advisory council earlier today at Mohawk Valley Community College. He called for more renewable energy and lauded local efforts to become Climate Smart Communities.

20. Animal rights

Brindisi said this is an issue he takes seriously as a “parent” of a dog adopted from a shelter. He pointed to a recent federal law combating animal cruelty and contended that people who commit animal cruelty often go on to engage in other forms of violent behavior.

21. U.S. Fish and Wildlife control

Brindisi expressed willingness to support efforts to maintain quality of life for residents and protect local wildlife.

22. Impeachment: An audience member expressed concern about the second article of impeachment, Obstruction of Congress, that Brindisi voted for

Brindisi said he viewed his role in the impeachment process a “grand juror” and respected the Senate’s decision not to remove President Trump from office. He believed the president should not have blocked witnesses from coming forth to testify.

Brindisi called for the country to “move forward” and continue to focus on issues constituents are most concerned about.

23. Corporate monopolies

Brindisi believes it is time for legislation increasing requirements for mergers to be approved by the federal government. This process should include more people who are “consumer friendly” to ensure consumer well-being and promote competition.

24. Health insurance: An audience member expressed concern about insurance inequality and believed it needs to be addressed

“Would you be in favor of a public option to help address this?” Brindisi asked.

“I think we need to go further,” the constituent responded.

25. Legacy: What do you view as your legacy?

Brindisi went into public service because “I love this area.” He and his wife came back to raise their children and be close to family. Brindisi said our area went through some rough times, but is rebounding, and he hopes to help build a place where his children and all children want to live.

26. Healthcare: A audience member, who shared she was disabled at work, expressed concern about losing Medicaid eligibility if she went back to work as she would like to do

Brindisi expressed concern about policies that inhibit people from working and bettering themselves because they will lose vital benefits they rely on for basic needs. He described the president’s proposed budget cuts to social programs as “unconscionable.”

Luke Perry (@PolSciLukePerry) is Professor of Government at Utica College

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