Congressman Brian Mast’s latest attempt to defend his vote for the Republican health care repeal and ripoff bill at last night’s town hall was even more disastrous than his last attempt and the one before that and even the one before that. Admittedly, it’s hard to defend a bill that would rip health insurance away from 23 million Americans, slap an age tax on older Floridians, and rip away protections for people living with pre-existing conditions – particularly when more than 90% of the country is opposed to the bill moving forward as it was passed by Brian Mast and Washington Republicans.
It’s no surprise that Brian Mast’s constituents are livid; the question is whether Rep. Mast listens to their concerns or continues to put his party’s talking points before the needs of folks on the Treasure Coast and the Palm Beaches.
“Congressman Mast’s voters spoke clearly: his continued support for the Republican repeal and ripoff bill is a disqualifier if he wants to represent this community in Congress,” said Cole Leiter DCCC spokesperson. “But instead of listening to and addressing their concerns, Mast doubled down on his support for the bill and offered up an endless rotation of Washington approved talking points. This community deserves better and if Brian Mast isn’t up to the task, they’ll repeal and replace him come November.”
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Hundreds attend town hall meeting in Stuart | WPTV
By Andrew Lofholm
In front of a max capacity crowd of more than 500 people inside Stuart’s Kane Center, Representative Brian Mast spent around three hours answering questions from constituents.
Topics ranged from healthcare, to abortions, education, President Donald Trump and Russia.
“When President Trump comes out and says I had nothing to do with the Russians and to the best my knowledge, no one I knew had anything to do with the Russians, how in the hell can you believe him? Do you believe him?” one man asked.
“Yes I do believe him,” Mast says to both cheers and boos.
Mast addressed an online attack ad, accusing him of using stolen Russian information during his campaign, before Monday’s meeting.
“It’s really an example of being misleading.”
The ad encouraged constituents to come out tonight and speak.
“Everyone here has a question that has been sent to them. Mine is from the heart. I was a school teacher. I want to know what we’re doing about kids in dialing schools?” a woman asked.
“An answer to your question man, school choice is something that is very important to me,” Mast responded.
Mast grilled about the loosening of EPA restrictions and healthcare.
He responded to that criticism, “If you think that every state is like a child that has to be controlled by the government then maybe that’s your point of bee. I personally believe that states should not be treated like children.”
And perhaps the most contentious exchange of the night, about defunding Planned Parenthood.
“You know very well what I’m talking about congressman,” a woman says.
Mast: “So the right to choose to have an abortion?”
Woman: “If that’s one of the questions, yeah. The right to make that choice too. Why is that choice up to you because of your religious beliefs?”
Mast: “There’s nothing religious about the right and wrong about taking an innocent life.”
[…]
U.S. Rep Mast hosts town hall, defends health care vote | WPEC
By Luli Ortiz
More than 300 constituents attended a standing-room only meeting tonight to address concerns and clear up some rumors surrounding how he got elected.
A recent report claims Congressman Mast used data leaked from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee by the Russians to adjust his own campaign strategy on the Treasure Coast, but told CBS12 that is simply not true.
[…]
Tequesta mother Janice Drake has a son battling from a rare form of leukemia, and requires $11,000 a month in medications.
She expressed fear on how she’s going to pay for his coverage, adding that she needs the existing Affordable Health Care Act, something that Congressman Brian Mast does not support.
“He has cancer. His whole body is trying to kill him,” said Janice Drake.
Congressman Mast said he’s aware the Congressional Budget Office said 23 million people won’t have insurance under the Republican’s plan to replace the Affordable Care Act. However, Mast said getting rid of the individual mandate is a good thing for tax payers.
[…]
Republican Rep. Brian Mast gets blasted on health care at Stuart town hall | TC Palm
By Lucas Daprile
If Brian Mast wants to get re-elected to Congress, he’d better be on the right side of health care reform.
That was the resounding message from a left-leaning crowd of more than 400 people who attended the Palm City Republican’s heated town hall Monday night.
Among the calmest, yet most potent, criticisms of Mast’s vote in favor of the Republican health care proposal came from Janice Drake, a 65-year-old mother of three from Tequesta. She detailed the suffering and financial cost her 29-year-old son, David, endures related to his leukemia. Without insurance, she said she couldn’t afford treatments, even if she works harder.
“I’ve been a nurse for 46 years,” she said. “I’ll get a second job.”
Drake appealed to Mast as a parent — he also has three children — and asked him to consider if his son, to whom she referred by name, was in David’s position.
“It’s not politics, it’s people,” Drake said.
[…]
Mast defends health care vote, Trump at town hall | Palm Beach Post
By George Bennett
Fielding questions from a raucous town hall crowd of 350 or more on Monday, U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, R-Palm City, defended his vote for a Republican health care bill and told critics of President Donald Trump it would be “completely irresponsible” to speculate on impeaching him.
[…]
The most impassioned statements from the audience were about health care.
“You’re going to kill me. I’m going to die. A lot of people are going to die because you supported a bill that you didn’t even read,” said a woman who said she had brain lesions and other pre-existing conditions that require frequent MRIs and scans.
Mast said he did read that bill and that it protects people with pre-existing conditions. But critics say the House bill would enable states to allow insurers to raise costs for sick people.
Bishop Joseph Kidwell of Greater Grace and Deliverance Ministries in Fort Pierce said he voted for Mast because he opposes abortion. But Kidwell said the health care bill would hurt poor children and families in the “desperate area” his church serves.
“I voted for you because you’re pro-life. … Does being pro-life only apply to before you’re born?” Kidwell asked.
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