Town halls are a strong tradition of American democracy. When politicians refuse to engage with their constituents, they betray the freedoms they swore to uphold. Across the nation, Republican officeholders are dodging constituents, avoiding questions, and even resorting to intimidation to silence dissent.

Last month, Idaho made national news when a woman was assaulted and forcibly removed from a legislative “town hall” in Kootenai County for daring to ask questions. Under orders from Republican Sheriff Bob Norris, three unidentified men restrained her and dragged her from the public venue. Coeur d’Alene’s police chief later condemned the incident as a blatant violation of First Amendment rights.

While this incident was shocking, it’s common for Idaho’s Republican leaders to dodge accountability. Two months into the legislative session, all of Idaho’s Democratic legislators have held town halls where constituents asked questions and voiced concerns freely. Many Republican lawmakers refuse to do the same.

Take Republican Tanya Burgoyne, who narrowly won Pocatello’s House seat over Democrat Nate Roberts. Burgoyne cast the deciding committee vote to approve legislation that would lead to the dismantling of voter-approved Medicaid expansion and take coverage away from 90,000 Idahoans. She helped pass a costly voucher scheme that will hurt neighborhood public schools. And she voted for a union-busting bill — a slap in the face to her union member constituents. While making deeply unpopular decisions, she has refused to hold a town hall, skipped community events where legislators are expected to speak and backed out of a legislative preview at the last minute.

Idaho’s congressional delegation has made avoiding town halls an art form. Congressman Mike Simpson last held a tele-town hall 14 years ago. Senator Mike Crapo hasn’t held one since 2019. Senator Jim Risch last faced constituents in a choreographed virtual event in 2020 with pre-screened questions. When Republicans do hold public forums, the results are often disastrous. In 2017, Raúl Labrador infamously claimed, “Nobody dies because they don’t have access to health care.” Now, to avoid their true colors showing through, Republicans choose to hide.

Republican lawmakers will continue to punt on answering for the mass firings, rising costs, and reckless policies coming out of Washington. That’s why Idaho Democrats are stepping up. Former Congressmen Richard Stallings and Larry LaRocco recently launched a statewide town hall tour to ensure Idahoans’ voices are heard. Their first events in Pocatello and Idaho Falls drew crowds eager for honest discussions. In the coming weeks, they’ll travel the state, listening to concerns and addressing issues that matter to Idaho families.

Republicans may hide, but they cannot avoid accountability forever. Come Election Day, voters will remember who had the courage to stand before them and who was too afraid.

Onward,

Lauren Necochea
Idaho Democratic Party Chair.