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Public grills Stefanik at open event in Johnstown

Congresswoman defends positions for, against Trump

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik listens as Liz Russo of Johnstown asks a question during “Coffee with Your Congresswoman” Monday at the Shirley J. Luck Senior Citizens Center in Johnstown. Stefanik was in town for the Fulton County Republican Chairman’s Club dinner. (Photo — The Leader-Herald)

JOHNSTOWN — U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik on Monday faced tough questions at a “Coffee with Your Congresswoman” event held at the Shirley J. Luck Senior Citizens Center.

Approximately 100 people packed into the senior center to ask Stefanik, R-Willsboro, questions about the federal budget, health care, federal funding for the police and for defense, and about President Donald Trump and whether he is fit to serve as president.

Even though the meeting was held in a city that went overwhelmingly for Trump in the 2016 presidential election, nearly all of the questions were critical of the new president and his first 100 days in office.

Stefanik began the event by explaining why she has come out against Trump’s proposed federal budget and by explaining her position on repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as “Obamacare.”

“I don’t support the president’s current budget,” Stefanik said. “I think we should look at every agency for small savings, but these cuts go too steep, and I certainly don’t support eliminating the (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency).”

Jahnn Gibson of Johnstown asks a question of Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (not pictured) during “Coffee with Your Congresswoman” at the Shirley J. Luck Senior Citizens Center in Johnstown on Monday. (Photo — The Leader-Herald)

Several people in attendance expressed their concern that either they or members of their family would lose health insurance if the Affordable Care Act is repealed.

Stefanik said she supports maintaining the Affordable Care Act’s protections for people with pre-existing conditions, but she wants to eliminate the individual mandate requiring people to purchase health insurance. She said it remains to be seen what will emerge as a health care reform bill in Congress, and she intends to remain active in the debate over what will be a part of that bill.

Participants at the event were assigned numbers and allowed to ask questions if and when the assigned number was called. Fulton County Administrative Officer Jon Stead presided over the question-and-answer period. Members of the audience held up green signs that said “Agree” when they agreed with something an audience member or Stefanik said, and red signs that said “Disagree” when they disagreed.

Some members of the audience came from as far away as parts of Saratoga County or Glens Falls to see Stefanik.

“Why can’t we have one of these town halls in Glens Falls or Saratoga County?” asked one unidentified member of the audience. “I’m from Saratoga County, and have it on a weeknight or a weekend. I know lots of my friends who say, ‘I’ve got to go all the way out to Johnstown on the middle of a Monday?’

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik gestures as she answers a question from a member of the audience during a “Coffee with Your Congresswoman” April 24 at the Shirley J. Luck Senior Citizens Center in Johnstown. (Photo — The Leader-Herald)

“We had a town hall event in Glens Falls; you weren’t there. Can we get an auditorium? Paul Tonko had 1,200 people at his town hall in Schenectady.

“Can you at least do us the decency of having a town hall that a lot of people can get to and a lot of people can get into?”

According to a news release from Stefanik’s office, she has held 50 small meetings across New York’s 21st Congressional District in the last several weeks. Stefanik said Monday she plans to hold town hall events in the Glens Falls and Saratoga area.

“And not a little thing where there’s only 100 people,” the audience member said.

“All right, let’s keep everything civil,” Stead said, acting as the moderator. “I don’t want to see everything divided into a factional thing today.”

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, right, gestures as she answers questions from the audience during “Coffee with Your Congresswoman” Monday at the Shirley J. Luck Senior Citizens Center in Johnstown. (Photo — The Leader-Herald)

Former Gloversville Police Chief John Harzinski questioned Trump and U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ threats to cut federal funding to police organizations in sanctuary cities such as New York City.

“I think it’s unconscionable that this is what our administration is coming to. We’re going to go after certain cities for doing what they think is right,” Harzinski said. “I’m more concerned with the fact that, New York City, for instance, has taken a big slap in the face from the president saying, ‘We’re not going to fund you anymore.’ They have the best counter-terrorism group in the world, and he wants to defund. Sessions wants to defend. It makes no sense.

“Granted, they have a very large police department. However, they are doing a very good job keeping crime down, contrary to what comes out of the White House. It’s just unconscionable that someone in his position would want to de-fund. (Trump) wants to keep people safe? No, he does not.”

Stefanik said the U.S. immigration system is broken, and she favors reform of the agricultural visa program, citing the onerous paperwork systems farmers must renew annually to employ the same seasonal migrants year after year. She said the rule of law must be enforced, and cuts to law enforcement are not the way to do it.

“I don’t support defunding law enforcement,” she said. “I think law enforcement should be funded. I’m not a representative from New York City, but I certainly know that their counter-terrorism center is world class and sets the standard around the world. But I want to hear from state police departments on how that would affect this district.”

After meeting with the public on Monday, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik attends the Fulton County Republican Chairman’s Club dinner at the Raindancer Restaurant in Perth. She is seated with Fulton County Republican Chair and state GOP Regional Vice Chair Susan McNeil, right, and state Sen. James Tedisco. (Photo — The Leader-Herald)

Virginia Mackey, president of the Fulton County Board of Realtors, voiced a positive note, saying the business of selling homes locally seems to have picked up since January. She hopes for action on reform of banking regulations.

“I’m thankful for that, because I’ve just lived through five years of struggling of dealing with the economy, people losing their jobs, or the banking industry with the mandates they have, they can’t get loans through even though the interest rates are very low,” she said. “So in those two areas, we are really looking for positive action.”

Several in attendance asked Stefanik what her views were on allegations that Trump’s presidential campaign may have colluded with Russia in tampering with the U.S. elections. Some asked if she would support impeaching Trump. Others asked if she thought he had the right temperament to serve as president.

Stefanik said, given the facts that are known now, she would not vote to impeach Trump. She said she serves on the House Intelligence committee investigating the allegations about Russia. She said she voted for Trump and will work with him on areas where they agree.

“I think he’s non-traditional,” she said.

Jason Subik is a reporter for the Leader-Herald, based in Gloversville, a sister newspaper to the Enterprise.

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