Fair's fair. Last week I reported that every single Republican member of Congress from Washington State plans to hide from his or her constituents during next week's recess. Instead of hosting public meetings and listening to constituent concerns about the Affordable Care Act, climate change, and civil rights, they're off somewhere else, potentially trying to avoid "a YouTube moment." In at least one case, that strategy doesn't seem to be working out. Though Rep. Dave Reichert isn't holding a public meeting, his constituents are bringing the public meeting to him.
But what do Washington State Democrats have planned for the recess?
Denizens of blue districts deserve a chance to gather, speak out, and advocate for the issues they care about, too—just as they did back when Democrats controlled all branches of government. Are their representatives doing any better than the Republicans when it comes to hosting public town halls? Well, some are.
Congressman Derek Kilmer (D-6)
Our man in District 6! Rep. Kilmer loves him some town halls. According to a schedule he posted to his website on Facebook, he’s hosting two town halls during the February state work period—one in Tacoma, WA and one in Bremerton, WA—and he's hosting three town halls during the March recess—one in Hoquiam, WA one in Sequim, WA, and one via telephone.
“When I’m home it’s important to me that I hear from you,” Kilmer says in an announcement for last year’s town hall tour. “I hope folks will be able to join one of my upcoming town halls to share their ideas and concerns.”
He even has a little form on his website dedicated to collecting ACA stories from his constituency. Smart!
His official House profile says “business groups have praised Kilmer for being one of the most pro-business Democrats in Olympia,” which suggests to me that these town halls might be particularly interesting. Wouldn't be surprised to run into some "fiscal conservatives" there.
Congressman Rick Larsen (D-2)
In the last month alone, Rep. Larsen has held town halls on the ACA in Mountlake Terrace, Bellingham, Marysville, and Anacortes, according to a source familiar with his schedule. That same person tells me Larsen averages “10 public town hall and/or community coffees each year, and since 2011 he’s held more than 70 public events.” Dude is not hard to find.
Except for during next week’s February recess. Right now Larsen doesn’t have any town halls scheduled, though he does plan to hold more in the coming weeks.
Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (D-1)
A source close to Rep. DelBene says she’s planning to host some town halls in March, but the details aren’t firm yet.
And, no. DelBene isn’t holding any public meetings during the February recess.
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-7)
Seattle’s action-Congresswoman, Pramila Jayapal, led the Westlake rally to defend the ACA on the 15th of January. When Trump announced his travel ban, she showed up at Seatac airport—along with Rep. Suzan DelBene, Port of Seattle Commissioner Courtney Gregoire, and members of Gov. Inslee’s and Sen. Patty Murray’s staff—to demand answers from Customs and Border Patrol. But she’s not holding a town hall during the February recess.
A source familiar with Jayapal’s schedule says her staff is still working out her town hall schedule, and that they're hoping to hold one next month.
Congressman Denny Heck (D-10)
The next public event Rep. Heck has on his calendar is a punny community gathering that emphasizes the health benefits of civic action. During “March 4 Our Health Care” on Saturday, March 4, at Portland Avenue Park in Tacoma, WA, Heck will host a discussion wherein, according to press materials, speakers share “how the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, Medicaid, reproductive health care, and behavioral health care have in impacted their lives.”
The best part: “The speaking program will be followed by a neighborhood walk to promote healthy living and civic engagement.” Nowhere in these press materials does it say you can’t bring a sign to accompany you on your healthy civic walk.
That’s great for March, but where’s Heck spending his February recess?
Singapore.
He’s the co-chair of the Congressional Singapore Caucus and his district covers Joint Base Lewis-McChord, which Heck’s spokesperson, Kati Rutherford, tells me “contributes forces to joint exercises with many regional militaries, including the Singapore Armed Forces.” The congressman is “is interested in exploring how the United States can continue to play a constructive role in maintaining stability in the Southeast Asia region.”
Rutherford adds that the last time Rep. Heck went on such a trip was back in August of 2015, but that his new position on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence means he might have to travel more for work.
Congressman Adam Smith (D-9)
Rep. Smith has town halls scheduled in cities throughout his district through 2017, but he doesn’t have one planned for the February recess.
Spokesperson Rebecca Bryant says Smith will spend this recess holding smaller, private meetings with constituents, and notes that he will host a town hall in “Southeast Seattle” on Saturday, March 4th at 10:00 am.
She adds that Smith welcomes the recent uptick of calls his office has been fielding, and points to a story he published on Medium following the rollout of Trump's travel ban: “This is a promising sign for the vitality of our civic culture and I hope I continue to see this level of participation as we move forward," he writes.
Senator Patty Murray
Senator Murray’s done a fine job leading the fight against the current education secretary, the tremendously unqualified and excessively bear-wary Betsey DeVos, and also against labor secretary nominee Andrew Puzder, who just withdrew his nomination today. She’s also prepared to filibuster SCOTUS nominee Neil Gorsuch.
But she’s not holding a town hall during the February recess. From her spox:
Sen. Murray works hard to hear from her constituents and when she’s not in DC, she is most often meeting directly with people in communities across our state by going directly to where they are, whether that’s at their place of work, in roundtables, or in other settings where she can have longer conversations about the issues that concern them most. At this time, she does not have any town halls scheduled.
Senator Maria Cantwell
But Murray isn’t the only US Senator in Washington! Maria Cantwell, who is up for re-election in 2018, plans to hold “a series of public events, rallies, and roundtables with a focus on healthcare in several cities” during the upcoming February recess, says her spokesman, but her staff hasn’t ironed out the details just yet.
