Healthcare

GOP Rep. Won’t Hold Town Halls Because Reporters

Written by SK Ashby

While congressman Dave Brat won't hold town halls because the women are in his grill, Representative Peter Roskam (R-IL) canceled a town hall meeting with his constituents because a local reporter showed up.

Rep. Peter Roskam's (R-IL) office cancelled a meeting with constituents about Obamacare on Wednesday when a staffer for the congressman learned that a reporter was present, according to the Aurora Beacon-News. [...]

Roskam's outreach coordinator, Eddie Corrigan, told the Beacon-News that the meeting was closed to the press.

One staff member reportedly scolded the congressman's constituents for allowing a reporter to join their group to which one constituent replied that the reporter did not have to accompany them.

Alexander told the staff member that the reporter did not have to come into the meeting. The staffer walked away, and no one returned to provide any other explanation.

"He just ran off," Alexander said. "They never told me that the media could not be here, and the reporter was willing to leave so that we could have our meeting," she said.

Why would Roskam duck and flee a meeting with local constituents just because a reporter was present within 100 yards of the meeting?

Constituents reportedly scheduled the meeting with Roskam to voice their concerns about repealing Obamacare. Roskam probably didn't want to risk getting caught lying on camera.