This is not how Rep. Andy Barr wanted his town hall to go last night. But with his “adamant” support for the Republican health care repeal bill in the spotlight, Barr should not have been surprised. Don’t forget, an ABC poll released yesterday showed that only 37% of voters supported President Trump’s plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, nearly a 10% swing from January.
“If Andy Barr was looking for a takeaway from yesterday it’s this: you get booed by your constituents when you put your own reckless and partisan agenda ahead of their health and well-being,” said Cole Leiter, DCCC spokesperson. “And when you don’t listen and run for the exit while your constituents still have questions you haven’t answered, then they’ll vote you out. It’s plain and it’s simple.”
Here’s what Kentucky is reading this morning:
WUKY: Cacophony with your Congressman
“Many asked for assurances that the Republican plan would not roll back benefits afforded under the signature Obama-era legislation, including birth control provisions, along with psychiatric and drug counseling. To which, Barr promised any new reforms would guarantee more choice and access while retaining protections for those with pre-existing conditions.”
“The scheduled 90-minute event ran as long as advertised, though Barr exited with more than 25 questioners waiting in line.”
WEKU: Congressman Barr faces vocal opposition at Lexington town hall
“Sixth District Rep. Andy Barr received strong and outspoken reaction from a crowd packed into the Lafayette High School auditorium Monday night. Shouts of discontent came early and lasted throughout much of the hour and a half program.”
“The first very audible reaction erupted when the congressman commented that the Affordable Care Act is in a death spiral.”
WTVQ: “Shame on you”: Congressman Barr faces tough questions at town hall
“Constituents like Danielle Goulding fought to stay cool through the tense heat. She says the Affordable Care Act saved her mom, a woman she says is fighting a metastatic melanoma.”
“‘For Andy Barr to sit and say it is a disaster is very disingenuous,’ Goulding said of the Affordable Care Act.”
Associated Press: Hundreds expected to question US Rep. Andy Barr
“It was the 70th cup of coffee Barr has hosted since ousting a Democratic incumbent in 2012. But this year, Barr has been targeted by several loosely affiliated progressive groups that have sprung up at the outset of Trump’s presidency. They watch for Barr’s public appearances, advertise them through social media and other means and spend hours researching votes and writing questions for their growing army of activists intent on confronting their elected officials with facts.”
“’For the most part, as long as things were running smoothly in Washington, I didn’t bother Andy … But this time, it’s different,’ said Peter Wedlund, a retired University of Kentucky pharmacy professor who researches issues and provides talking points for activists as part of the group Indivisible Bluegrass.”
Lexington Herald Leader: At town hall, Rep. Andy Barr is heckled, booed, occasionally cheered
“As Barr stood and adamantly defended the Republican replacement for the Affordable Care Act, he saw a whole lot of red.”
“In the 6th Congressional District, a study by the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy found that 69,724 people would lose coverage under the new health care proposal.”
Richmond Register: Barr faces testy crowd at Lexington town hall meeting
“Republican U.S. Congressman Andy Barr faced 600 or so mostly angry constituents Monday night at a town hall meeting in Lexington dominated by questions about the Affordable Care Act and Republicans’ plan to replace it with their own plan.”
“He also praised the bill’s efforts to halt the increase in Medicaid by giving states block-grant or other flexible funding mechanisms to offer the government insurance for the poor and disabled. That produced one of the loudest and most sustained negative reactions of the night.”
“One woman, who identified herself as Amanda, said the ACA and expanded Medicaid program “literally saved my life.”
“Barr was unrelenting in his criticism of the ACA, often citing anecdotes of constituents who’ve told him they can’t afford their insurance or doctors who won’t accept Medicaid. He cited data he says indicates huge increases in insurance premiums — but he had no answer for a woman who quoted larger premium increases during the years prior to passage of the ACA.”