24-03-2025
Citizens vent frustrations in town hall
Mar. 23—A Lewiston town hall hosted by former United States Congressmen Richard Stallings and Larry LaRocco drew roughly 200 attendees on Saturday morning at the Lewiston Community Center.
The congressmen, both Democrats, have been holding town halls around the state, and they said the meeting was one of the largest they'd drawn. They spoke at a similar event Saturday night at the 1912 Center in Moscow, and that event also drew about 200 people.
LaRocco said they plan to write a report based on feedback from the town halls to present to Congress.
"Richard and I are preparing a little report for our congressional delegation so they can hear what the constituents say, because they don't give a damn and they're not here listening to you," LaRocco said.
The former congressmen said congressional representatives were complicit in what they believe to be illegal action by the presidential administration, including immigration crackdowns on legal residents, and allowing Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency access to sensitive information of citizens.
It's a sentiment that seemed to be shared by many of the constituents who came to the town hall. Barbara Bird, 83, has lived in Lewiston for 40 years.
"I worry about DOGE getting into Social Security. I worry about our safety," she said. "Our representatives are not doing their job, they're not representing us. They're not listening to the people who elected them. They should remember that when the next election comes up."
Many other attendees said they were worried about Social Security.
One audience member asked for a raise of hands among those who would be in trouble without their Social Security check, to which roughly a third of the room's hands went up.
"We've gotta prioritize," she said. "For me, that looks like something about Social Security, because if we don't have income, how can we stand up and fight for anything else?"
Some, including former Idaho state Rep. John Rusche, discussed concerns that the local Social Security office might eventually be closed by DOGE. Rusche said he had investigated and that the office had been on a list to close before DOGE received blowback.
"I don't know what's gonna happen with the Social Security office," Rusche said. "But ... (if it did close), that would be just a disaster."
Stallings said the one branch of government where he believes people are doing their job is the courts.
Daily headlines, straight to your inboxRead it online first and stay up-to-date, delivered daily at 7 AM
"The courts are holding. If Trump defies a court order, then we really are at a constitutional crisis," he said. "Then, I think the only recourse we have is to demonstrate in such huge numbers that we make the Martin Luther King 'I have a dream' march look small in comparison."
Attendees spent much of the town hall discussing political strategy in a time when they feel unheard by their representatives.
One man said he had sent questions to both U.S. Rep. Russ Fulcher and U.S. Senator Jim Risch.
"Handwritten questions, and I've still received no response. I don't expect those gentlemen to answer me, but they have staff that could," the man said.
Several people, to loud applause, expressed frustration with the Democratic party for not taking more decisive action in moments when they had the chance.
"Democrats talk and talk and Republicans steal Supreme Court justices. They make things happen. And I think people see that," said Alex Church. "Republicans every time make things happen while Democrats say, 'Well, maybe next time in two years.'"
Kenneth Parham of Lewiston spoke in favor of a more aggressive political strategy.
"When you look at how things are going, it's —it's there. So, we have to play hardball and not softball," he said.
Other residents noted the need to engage with young people. Several mentioned the energy young people expressed for U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders during his presidential campaign in 2016.
One speaker, who identified herself as Mariah, said she works as a teacher and believes the Democratic party hasn't done enough to engage young voters.
"Young people, they've never felt they were the target audience. They never felt like they were heard, and they never felt like their vote mattered in this state, honestly," she said. "We don't believe that they (Democratic leaders) have a backbone. And the high road is not working anymore."
Stallings said one of his goals is to recruit more people to run for office.
"I'd like some people that are a little more responsible to their constituents. And I don't care if it's Democrats — I might prefer Democrats obviously — but if Republicans take a step up to that, I'll give them the same support because this is a constitutional crisis," he said.
Sun may be contacted at rsun@ or on Twitter at @Rachel_M_Sun. This report is made in partnership with Northwest Public Broadcasting, the Lewiston Tribune and the Moscow-Pullman Daily News.
