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Nearly 200 people gathered at the American Legion in Kearney on Thursday morning to share their thoughts and concerns with Nebraska’s U.S. Senator Deb Fischer.
Health care and education were the most prevalent discussion items in a wide-ranging town hall meeting. Many constituents voiced concerns about changes to health care coverage, particularly to Medicaid and Medicare under the new bill put forward by House Republicans. Fischer declined to take a stance on a bill she characterized as a work in progress, but was critical of Obamacare.
"The Affordable Care Act, first of all it’s not affordable, and secondly, many, many, many Nebraskans have been hurt by it. I know there are people who have been helped by it as well," Fischer said.
One constituent asked Fischer to pledge to not defund Planned Parenthood, sparking a contentious discussion about federal funding for abortion and family planning. Fischer reiterated her pro-life stance, which many in the crowd seemed to support.
Judy Martindale of Lincoln criticized Fischer’s support for the new head of the Environmental Protection Agency, Scott Pruitt. "I believe your vote for Pruitt, a climate change denier, as head of the EPA, was a vote against all of Nebraska," she said.
Fischer also drew criticism from several teachers and school administrators for her vote in support of Betsy DeVos as education secretary. Fischer defended the vote and referred to a letter she received from DeVos.
"She assured me she is not going to be mandating vouchers, charter schools, school choice, through the department of education. I don’t want the federal government in education. I’ve always been a strong supporter of public schools," Fischer said.
Cynthia Getty of Overton supported Fischer’s backing of DeVos, saying she dealt with excessive paperwork during her career working in special education.
"Every time that they put another bill in, all it does is make more work and more cost," Getty said.
Other constituents raised questions about a new farm bill, federal nutrition guidelines, and military spending. Several voiced criticism of the lack of bipartisan cooperation in Congress and criticism of President Trump himself.
Overall the meeting was respectful and constituents thanked Fischer for visiting in person. Several hundred people protested outside a meeting Fischer held with a independent business association in Lincoln last month. Several other members of Nebraska's congressional delegation are also holding public meetings in the state this week.
Fischer said she was pleased with the turnout and discussion and said she’ll continue to focus on national security, infrastructure, and reducing regulations in the months to come.