GOP reps lay low amid town hall push

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COLUMBUS — Ohioans concerned about repeal of the federal health care law and stoked by liberal groups opposed to President Donald Trump’s actions have organized town halls across the battleground state during this week’s congressional recess.

Most Republican congressional representatives are skipping the events, often citing schedule conflicts.

Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, a conservative and 10-year House veteran, is an exception. He attended events in his district Monday and engaged with protesters who showed up.

But on Tuesday and Wednesday, constituents seeking town halls demonstrated at the offices of U.S. Sen. Rob Portman and U.S. Reps. Bob Gibbs, Mike Turner, Bob Latta and Steve Chabot, all Republicans.

Other Ohioans have joined thousands of citizens nationally to sign online petitions at Change.org requesting access to their congressional representatives, in the wake of the tumultuous first month of Trump’s administration.

After failing to get personal access, some sent their messages by video.

Republican U.S. Reps. Pat Tiberi and Steve Stivers were not expected at the town hall-style meetings being held in their respective districts Wednesday.

Tiberi spokeswoman Olivia Hnat said the representative has scheduled back-to-back meetings with constituents to discuss health care reform during the past several weeks in his central Ohio office.

“These are important opportunities for Rep. Tiberi to listen to their concerns, respond to them directly and engage in a constructive conversation,” she said.

Tiberi’s office has been approached in recent weeks by a group of constituents from Delaware County demanding a town hall style meeting with him regarding his vote on the Affordable Care Act, also called Obamacare.

Stivers’ spokeswoman Courtney Whetstone said the congressman was invited on short notice and has scheduling conflicts. She noted that the event is organized by a local Democratic candidate and features the state Democratic chairman.

She said Stivers has communicated with nearly 10,000 constituents by letter and held three telephone town halls involving more than 11,200 residents.

Mitch Lerner, of Granville, has three children with juvenile diabetes who are now insured because of the ACA.

“These are small children whose lives could be devastated by the decision you’re about to make,” he said in a video aimed at Portman. “To steal someone’s health care who faces these dreadful health problems is so unbelievably devastating that I don’t know how you could ever look yourself in the eye again.”

The Gazette staff contributed to this report.

By Julie Carr Smyth

Associated Press

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