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Congresswoman Faces Backlash Over Voter Citizenship Bill at Town Hall
A Washington state Democrat has drawn significant criticism during a recent town hall meeting following her support for legislation requiring voters to verify their citizenship before casting ballots.
On Thursday, U.S. Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez was met with an overwhelmingly negative response from constituents during a crowded town hall gathering in Vancouver, receiving loud boos as she arrived.
Attendees voiced their discontent with her vote in favor of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, among other legislative measures that have sparked debate.
Throughout the hour-long meeting, the second-term congresswoman struggled to address the disruptions, as reported by KOIN 6.
Despite Gluesenkamp Perez’s assurance that the bill was unlikely to pass in the Senate, many in the audience were adamant about expressing their outrage regarding her stance on the issue.
During the tumultuous event, she asserted, “Americans believe that only US citizens should be determining the outcome of American elections. And any idea that I am standing to disenfranchise people is patently false.”
Local resident Anna Brouns expressed her frustration, stating, “I came here to hear what she has to say. Unfortunately, it always sounds like the same thing.” She conveyed a desire for the congresswoman to adopt a more assertive stance on pressing issues and effectively communicate her efforts to engage with Republican lawmakers.
Brouns further articulated her wish that Gluesenkamp Perez would provide clearer updates on her actions, saying, “I wish that she would stand stronger and voice more of like, ‘This is what I’m doing. I’m doing x, y, z. I’m talking to the Republicans. I’m trying to get them to shift.’ That would be helpful. Instead of talking about shop class.”
In response to the outcry, Gluesenkamp Perez reaffirmed her dedication to being accessible and accountable to her constituents, stating her commitment to having “as productive of a conversation as we can.”
Due to security concerns, her team reported that she was escorted from the venue following the event.
Source
www.yahoo.com