U.S. Rep. Kaptur hosts town hall at Old Orchard Elementary

Speculates Portman, Latta will 'pay a price' for avoiding meeting with constituents

U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur speaks to constituents Tuesday.

THE BLADE/JEREMY WADSWORTH
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U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Toledo) speculated that Ohio Sen. Rob Portman (R., Ohio) and U.S. Bob Latta (R., Bowling Green) were turning down public demands for town hall meetings because they are afraid.

Miss Kaptur held a “listening session” town hall meeting in Old Orchard Elementary School’s gym tonight, her first in this end of the district in at least several years. She was asked how to get Mr. Latta and Mr. Portman to answer questions in a public setting.

U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur hosts a Congressional Listening Session Tuesday at Old Orchard Elementary School in Toledo.

“I think they’re probably afraid. They’re afraid to come out,” Miss Kaptur said. “I think they’re going to pay a price for that.”

Miss Kaptur drew a friendly crowd of about 180 people and took about a dozen questions during the 90-minute event. The audience gave sustained applause when she said, “my great hope is we will be able to turn the House back to the party I’m from.”

Mr. Latta’s and Mr. Portman’s offices have been picketed by the progressive organization Indivisible seeking the opportunity to express their views on Republican support for repealing the Affordable Care Act and for the policies of Republican President Donald Trump.

Mr. Portman's spokesman Emily Benavides said, "Rob and his staff have sat through dozens of meetings with them."

"Rob has held more than 60 events all across Ohio this year, including town halls, meetings with local businesses, and visits to drug treatment recovery centers,” Ms. Benavides said. “Just today he held a town hall meeting with Campbell Soup employees in Napoleon and discussed a range of issues like jobs, health care, and the opioid epidemic. He’s also taken the time to meet with protestors and answer their questions. There isn’t a U.S. senator who is more accessible to his constituents," 

Mr. Latta has said that he gets exposed to constituents’s views in regular telephone town hall meetings.

During her remarks, Miss Kaptur attacked big-spending by billionaires. She urged her audience to support candidates who support Medicare and Social Security. She attacked the Ohio Republican-controlled legislation for designing congressional districts designed to squeeze Democrats into the fewest number of districts possible.

She said the issue seniors should be most immediately concerned about is keeping the Affordable Care Act. She said Medicare premiums will go up under the GOP-backed American Health Care Act passed in the House and now pending in the Senate.

Contact Tom Troy: tomtroy@theblade.com or 419-724-6058 or on Twitter @TomFTroy.