Representative Emily Randall’s Port Angeles Town Hall Meeting

By Paul Pickett

On March 15 I joined people walking through the March drizzle to the Little Theatre at Peninsula College. Congresswoman Emily Randall was holding a Town Hall Meeting, and constituents were there in droves to listen and ask questions. The theatre filled up, and they also filled the cafeteria where we watched a monitor and heard the meeting remotely. 

Emily started her opening remarks by commenting on the difficulty of the situation in Washington DC right now. “Public service used to be a joy, but I can’t say that anymore” she began. What keeps her going, she noted, is “people like you, and colleagues in Congress.” She explained that the antidote to adverse experiences and stress lies in being together, using our voices, being part of a diverse community that keeps us accountable. Emily explained that the Republicans were spreading the attack broadly, at a pace intended to make us give up, and stressed that it’s so important to not give up hope.

Emily pulled out a written question, which asked how the Democrats can be an opposition party, not just a minority party. Emily said we need to look at personal stories about real impacts. We especially need people in Congressional Districts held by Republicans to tell their stories. For example, Medicaid, which is facing severe cuts, serves a higher proportion of people in eastern Washington. She explained that she and her colleagues are looking at every procedural tool, such as the Discharge Petition (to get bills out of committee), subpoenas, and the privilege motion. 

A question came from the audience: “I’m 67, this is my first Town Hall, I usually only vote. But I feel like I’m watching democracy die. We need to hear that Republicans know how dangerous this is.” Emily responded that veteran colleagues say this is like nothing they’ve ever seen. She explained that behind the scenes they are looking for ways to resist. “People want us to yell all the time, but that doesn’t always help,” she continued. "Quiet conversations can help too. “People are human” she pointed out. Moving colleagues need different approaches depending on the colleague.” Some you need to call out, and some will listen to a story. She concluded “we have a ways to go until we have the unity we need to survive the next two years.”

The next questioner referred to the rise of the Nazis in Germany, noting that the majority were silent. He asked how to wake people up and get them active. Emily responded that collective power and collective action will deliver us. She noted that history shows it’s unlikely that the government can save us from our government. She asked the audience to call friends and family who live where their member of Congress is not pushing back. and ask them to call that member. She said that we need to mobilize people, and help them get over their discomfort with politics.

A high school student from Tacoma asked what will happen to federal funding for student projects. Emily noted that there is no budget yet for 2025 or 2026. Her office is trying to get help with other funding sources. She said that grants are being turned down for language like “diversity of samples” or “female flies”, so the language used in the application is important.  Emily commented that so many problems like climate and health need money to solve. The administration should ask the people in the agencies who do the work what is essential and where cuts can happen, but that’s not happening. She called on everyone to not give up hope, because it’s going to take a lot of work.

There was a question about a bill regarding Trust Land Transfers that Representative Kilmer introduced in 2022 and 2024. Emily said that she will reintroduce the bill.  She noted that bills like this have been bipartisan in the past, but now you might need to take the word “environmental” out of the title.

 A questioner asked about foreign aid that the administration terminated without Congressional consent. “How are you working to get accountability?” Emily referred to the cuts to USAID. “It’s a hatchet job, with no thought if it’s an efficient way to get efficiency.” She referred to a suit to stop the USAID cuts, noting that they issued an order to halt, but Trump seems to be ignoring it and going after the judges that are not on his side. She wondered how the judges can push back, and how can we put pressure on so the administration complies. Emily talked about efforts to get accountability, even though Republicans can thwart the efforts of Democrats. She explained that Democrats can provide “minority witnesses” in Committee hearings – stories of how cuts are hurting people and hurting democracy. Clips of these can end up on social media. They can also hold field hearings that parallel official hearings, with their own questions and agendas, and the press will cover these.

“My son has autism, and will need support for life,” said the next questioner. “Removing programs that support my son makes me feel abandoned. How do we express that the world is better with my son in it?” Emily thanked her for the story, and said had a similar experience with my sister. She provided a number of suggestions, such as writing op-eds to tell your story, and posting stories on social media. She explained that Washington has almost 2 Million Medicaid cases and there have been 40 cases of fraud, which is only 0.002%. We need to explain why Medicaid is needed to help people to live. Stories are more compelling than numbers, such as “families down the street who will be homeless, or lose a family member”.

The next question was about the lack of any Republican response to Trump. Emily commented that she senses from Republican colleagues some concern about midterms. But she’s disappointed, their attitude is “our job is to carry out the Trump agenda”. She discussed how she sometimes disagreed with Governor Inslee when she was a State Senator. But her attitude was that she worked for the people, not for the Governor. She’s waiting for Republicans to stand up and say that. She described how Representative Newhouse from central Washington voted to impeach Trump, but now introduced the resolution to censure Representative Al Green. “It’s dangerous for them to step out of line.” Emily said that some Republicans have expressed concerns privately, “but that doesn’t do much good.” Some corporate Trump allies have begun raising concerns. She reminded everyone that they need to keep ensuring that Republicans hear from people how this is affecting them personally.

“How do we support laid-off employees?” was the next question. Emily noted that lawsuits have reinstated some employees, and with such a hatchet job, it’s wasting taxpayer dollars and there will be more lawsuits. Emily encouraged the audience to show up for them, go to protests and gatherings, tell their stories. Many of these employees are veterans, she continued, they have served their country, and bring those values to their federal job. But these cuts are disrespecting the employees doing this work. Emily asked people to use the form on her website to post stories. Her office is looking for tools, supporting suits, calling and checking in, helping with unemployment applications.

The next question asked what Democrats in Congress can do about the ICE raids. Emily remarked that Washington law protects immigrants and won’t let local law enforcement help the feds. But she encouraged everyone to take training to know their rights, and encourage others to learn their rights. She noted that many Congressional caucuses are working on this. She asked the audience to notify her office If they hear a story. Her office sends letters demanding information, which may seem like “letters to Santa”, but they try to use every tool.

A questioner expressed concern for “imperialist tendencies” and attacks on NATO. “What can be done?” Emily responded that the impact of changed foreign policies has yet to be felt, although trade war impacts are starting. Emily declared that attacking our allies is something the USA doesn’t do. Some Republicans have expressed concerns, and Trump has reversed a few decisions. But everyone needs to keep the pressure up. Foreign policies today impact us for years to come.

Next question was “how can Democrats appeal to the working class, and not just pursue the status quo?” Emily said the recent Washington vote on ballot measures sent a message: workers, not billionaires, should decide our direction. She declared that people’s stories are sinking in, and they feel billionaires are getting a better deal than they are. Emily discussed how elected officials who have been in office a long time forget how to talk to people in their everyday lives. Some of them forget what’s going on with regular people, like rental costs. She tells colleagues to talk to regular people as much as they can.

The last question was from a senior concerned with possible cuts to Social Security. “What should I do?” Emily described how closing offices and firing workers is especially hard on non-tech seniors – her office tries to help seniors with apps. “Please please contact my office” if there’s a problem. She said that they can’t guarantee results, but can often get answers. And they are tracking a number of problems. 

In conclusion, Emily described how she did a tour of the District “to feel the District’s character.” Her team is working on ways to respond, looking for tools. She ended with an invitation: if you want a meeting with her team – reach out! And keep looking after each other. The fight is long.

Frame capture from Clallam County Democrats Facebook post