COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) — Greater than 200 other people converged on an jap Nebraska highschool auditorium Tuesday night for a the city corridor held via Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Flood.
Handiest mins in, a cacophany of jeers, boos and offended calls for for solutions printed maximum have been there to voice their displeasure with the congressman.
It used to be unfamiliar territory for Flood — a former speaker of the Nebraska Legislature and in style baby-kisser in his deep pink state.
He had picked Columbus, Nebraska, for his first in-person the city corridor this yr, the fatherland of Republican Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen and the seat of a county that voted just about 3-to-1 for Trump in November.
Flood used to be the most recent Republican member of Congress to stand backlash at house over movements via President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s Division of Govt Potency to slash executive spending. The ones movements have sparked worry a few of the public that in style systems like Medicaid, Medicare and Social Safety services and products and advantages may well be lower.
Republican Rep. Mike Flood speaks to constituents earlier than preserving a the city corridor on Tuesday.
“My main concern is that I believe what Trump and Musk are doing are way beyond the boundaries of how things should be done in a democracy,” Pat Lostroh mentioned as she stood in line to get into the development. She traveled from David Town, greater than 30 miles (53 kilometers) away, to wait.
Trump has again and again mentioned he “will not cut Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid benefits,” however Musk — the arena’s richest guy and one in every of Trump’s maximum influential advisers — has made remarks that recommend differently. He has known as Social Safety “the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time” and hinted that it generally is a number one goal in his effort to downsize the government.
Whilst worry of cuts to social services and products ruled the dialogue, the ones attending voiced a variety of considerations, from outrage over the management’s loss of toughen for Ukraine towards Russian invasion to fears that the U.S. Postal Carrier might be gutted and privatized.
Maximum additionally gave Flood credit score for appearing up in user to listen to considerations. He’s amongst a handful of GOP Space contributors who’ve bucked the recommendation in their chief, Space Speaker Mike Johnson, to chorus from preserving public conferences with constituents.
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Flood mentioned he used to be ready for the offended reaction.
“I know that there are some angry people in my congressional district,” he mentioned following the development. “I also know there’s a lot of people who feel like America’s back on track. Tonight, I put myself here because I think there’s there’s value just in allowing somebody to come express themselves.”