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Protesters call out Shuster

Organization says rep. lacks accessibility

Mirror photo by Gary M. Baranec / More than 60 people participate in a demonstration outside the Hollidaysburg office of U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, R-9th District, on Tuesday.

HOLLIDAYSBURG — More than 60 people rallied outside of U.S. Rep Bill Shuster’s 301 Penn St. office Tuesday, demanding a town hall meeting with the Republican congressman whose whereabouts were kept private by staff.

The ralliers aimed criticism at plans of the Trump administration and congressional Republicans to reform national health care, beef up immigration laws and deregulate the energy industry.

The rally was organized by a constituent group called “Indivisible Blair County.”

At the root of their frustration was that this week is designated as “district work” for U.S legislators, according to the legislative schedule, but Shuster wasn’t accessible to his constituents.

It’s the first congressional “district work period” since the change of White House administration.

Mirror photo by Gary M. Baranec / More than 60 people, including Kevin Suckling of Altoona, participate in a demonstration outside the Hollidaysburg office of U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, R-9th District, on Tuesday afternoon. The ralliers aimed criticism at plans of the Trump administration and congressional Republicans to reform national health care, beef up immigration laws and deregulate the energy industry.

Congress goes back to session on Feb. 27, but “now is a time when our representatives should be working at home, in their districts, holding events and meeting with their constituents,” according to Indivisible Blair County. “Congressman Shuster does not have any town hall events scheduled during this time, and our multiple requests through the proper channels to schedule a meeting with him have been ignored.”

Asked where Shuster was on Tuesday, staff at the Penn Street office directed media questions to Shuster’s Washington Office. A Shuster spokesman, available only by email on Tuesday, did not respond to the question of where Shuster was or whether constituents requested meetings.

Instead, a statement was emailed that Shuster is always happy to hear from constituents.

“The congressman is always happy to hear from his constituents, and during the demonstration his district director met with several to listen to their concerns. Free expression is a cornerstone of our democracy, and our office makes it a point to solicit and respond to constituent opinions.”

Shuster’s staff member Jim Frank opened office doors Tuesday afternoon to groups of four constituents at a time. He listened as they spoke and received written letters to give to Shuster.

On the health care front, Susan Williams of Bedford said she hopes that Shuster will remember constituents that benefit from the Affordable Care Act or “Obamacare” as the Republican majority aims to repeal it and replace it with another plan.

Outside, one woman held a sign reading “Cancer survivor helped by Obama­care.”

Citing the harm of acid mine drainage in Pennsyl­vania streams, ralliers also expressed disapproval of Shuster’s support for a recent House resolution that repeals President Barack Obama’s coal mining regulations. Outside, ralliers held signs including the message “There’s no planet B.”

Others were concerned about sweeping new guidelines in a draft policy by President Donald Trump to aggressively detain and deport immigrants living in the nation illegally. As Frank listened to those inside his office, those outside held signs reading “Diversity makes America great.”

With a heavy Republican constituency in the 9th District that renders Democratic challengers to Shuster mostly powerless, it’s rare for Shuster to hold town hall meetings, except when his re-election was challenged by Republican Art Halvorson in 2014 and 2016.

Older members participating in the rally noted that Shuster’s father, Bud Shuster, seldom held town hall meetings during his long tenure as leader of the 9th Congressional district.

“It’s a dynasty that’s impenetrable,” one woman said.

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