EXTRA: Local CMR Townhall Monday

Between 5 and 6PM this Monday, August 2, Rep. McMorris Rodgers (CD5, eastern Washington) is holding a town hall at Spokane Convention Center, Centennial Ballroom, 334 West Spokane Falls Blvd, Spokane, WA 99201. On Tuesday she’s in Republic and Colville (where she’s usually more comfortable).

She is making one of her rare visits to “her” district in eastern Washington for a couple of days during the August recess. These chances to see her and ask her questions are not widely advertised. She claims these gatherings as outreach even as she manages to avoid much controversy or pointed questions by careful advertising. I encourage people to attend and to record and share the interaction.

There are certainly some uncomfortable questions she ought to confront:

Global Warming: Why did she recently vote to let oil and gas companies release methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere instead of requiring them to collect it so they can sell it as natural gas? For details see Cathy's Climate Sabotage. McMorris Rodgers denies the scientific reality of human induced global warming, but cleverly resists plainly saying so—even as her constituents breathe smoke summer after summer. Perhaps a direct question, “Do you believe that methane and carbon dioxide are greenhouse gases and that their release into the atmosphere is the major cause of the global warming behind the smoke we’re breathing?” would help her constituents pinpoint her denial. (McMorris Rodgers flustered in response to the direct question, “What is your take on evolution and science? Do you believe the earth is more like 6000 years old or four and a half billion years old?” Her “I can’t say how old the earth is” response raises the question of whether she is doctrinally incapable of understanding climate science.)

McMorris Rodgers recently advertised in an email sent out by her office that she was “Holding Big Tech Accountable”. She and her crew recognize that people are concerned over the role of electronic platforms, so “Holding Big Tech Accountable” sounds like the right thing to do. One might be lulled into thinking that they are addressing the truth of speech advanced by electronic media or the marketing algorithms that draw Facebook readers down conspiracy theory rabbit holes. No. Take time to visit the Energy and Commerce Republicans webpage where they lay out their propaganda. There you’ll find that McMorris Rodgers, allied with nervous Jim Jordan (R-OH), is proposing to amend the Communications Decency Act in order to punish electronic media companies if they take down blatant lies (clothed as “free speech”):

Preserving constitutionally protected speech, led by Republican Leaders Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Jim Jordan (R-OH), to remove liability protections for companies who censor constitutionally protected speech on their platforms, require appeals processes, and transparency for content enforcement decisions. 

There is zero chance of these bills passing the current House, but in 2023, who knows? For the moment this is clever messaging to the deluded wing of the Republican Party to signal support to punish electronic media companies for taking down, banning, or labelling blatant political lies (which these people read as “truth”). Meanwhile, the messaging lulls the general populace into thinking that Republicans are actually addressing the worrisome issues around electronic platforms.

Those are just two lines of questioning. Here are a few more with links where one can research the specifics:

SJ Res 15-True Lender Disclosure. CMR voted NO. Cantwell and Murray both voted YES in the Senate. This bill would require lenders to disclosure their true source of funding for primarily residential loans.  Think Mortgage Broker funded/owned by a bank. Who is your true lender? Disclosure would lessen rate gouging.

HR 239-Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act. CMR voted NO. Think about that.

HR 2662-Should IG [Inspector General] be Removed for Cause.  CMR voted NO. This would strengthen the political ability of a rogue President to remove an IG for purely political purposes. In other words, in the past administration with Trump, an IG could longer be fired when they provide an unbiased, factual report.

H. Res. 503-Select Committee to Investigate January 6th.  CMR voted NO. The heading provides all you need to know.

HR 3684-Invest in America Act. CMR voted NO. The bill would reauthorize surface transportation programs, water infrastructure projects, and funds for highway and rail projects. She then touts the funds coming to WA under this package even after voting against it.

Look into her votes and rhetoric. Attend the town halls. Ask her for honest answers to straightforward but pointed questions.

Keep to the high ground,

Jerry

P.S. I regret that I am unable to attend in person but I hope to review and share what occurs from a recording or video from the event.

From McMorris Rodgers’ website. Her staff always says “Space is limited”, but it rarely is:

Monday, August 2, 2021

“Conversation with Cathy” Town Hall
When: 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Where: Spokane Convention Center, Centennial Ballroom, 334 West Spokane Falls Blvd, Spokane, WA 99201
**Space is limited. This event is first come, first served.**

Tuesday, August 3, 2021

“Conversation with Cathy” Town Hall
When: 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Where: Northern Inn, 852 S Clarke Ave, Republic, WA 99166
**Space is limited. This event is first come, first served.**

“Conversation with Cathy” Town Hall
When: 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Where: Stevens County Ambulance Center, 425 North Highway, Colville, WA 99114
**Space is limited. This event is first come, first served.**