By Brenda Flanagan
Correspondent
Intense emotion fueled the two-hour-long town hall meeting at a Waretown firehouse where 300 people fired questions at Congressman Tom MacArthur while an overflow crowd stood outside. The Third District Republican hurriedly scheduled this event after mounting criticism that he was ducking protesters at face-to-face Q&As.
“I know you’ve been reluctant to have a town hall because you didn’t want it hijacked by paid protesters. I can assure you in Ocean County we don’t have paid protesters and there’s no one here that’s going to hijack you,” said Barnegat resident Marianne Clemente.
“I know that there’s not paid protesters here. I know you are my constituents. I know that. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t paid organizers that are out there doing their own thing,” MacArthur said to boos. “Well, there are.”
MacArthur answered calmly and the standing-room-only crowd kept its cool — no screaming fireworks. But people pressed him to investigate Donald Trump’s Russian connections and to obtain the president’s tax returns.
“If you are a man of integrity you can’t possibly be serious to think that the Republicans are going to determine whether there was collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia,” said Nina D’Agostino, a retired teacher.
“Part of this process is getting to Trump’s taxes. You voted against allowing that to happen. That vote angered me, sir,” said Geoff Ginter of Pine Beach.
“What you’re asking is, should Congress either force him to, or just go to the IRS and get them?” MacArthur asked. “I know you feel that way. I’m not there yet. I think we have to allow the process to work.”
MacArthur gave much the same answer to complaints about Trump’s tangled businesses.
“Do you believe he is violating the emoluments clause of the Constitution?” asked Stafford Township resident Charles Stromoski.
“I know people aren’t satisfied with them, but he’s made some efforts at insulating himself from his real estate holdings,” MacArthur said. “Folks, you’re asking a question. You can disagree with my answer, but I’m telling you I did not go to Congress to fight with Donald Trump on these issues that you’re describing.”
People asked about health care reform — repealing and replacing Obamacare, especially Medicaid funding for the poor. MacArthur said he called Gov. Chris Christie for details.
“I need to understand what the impact is going to be in New Jersey if this gets frozen or cut off in the next couple of years. And he gave me pretty dire predictions about what happens. So I will look very carefully to make sure whatever happens with the Medicaid expansion, it doesn’t pull the rug out from under those people,” MacArthur said.
Afterwards, constituents appreciated MacArthur’s effort.
“I thought he did an excellent job, and I’m glad that the tone of the crowd was what it was, and I’m glad that I came,” said Barnegat resident Charlene Hoverter.
“I kind of expected him to know about the issues, rather than be waiting to decide. Hopefully next time we’ll get some real answers from him,” said Sharon Anderson from Willingboro.
The evening ended with applause.