Historically, during August, congressional representatives have held town halls. Regular legislative business is suspended in Washington, and elected officials make their way back to their home states.
Will U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Ooltewah, host a town hall?
“My answer is never,” the congressman told the Chattanooga Times Free Press by phone. “I used to do them. They’ve devolved into shout fests. I go out and meet with thousands of constituents — chamber of commerce, Rotary Club, education groups, you name it. I spend more time in my district speaking with constituents, but I am not going to dignify a rowdy leftist mob that wants to disrupt things.
“Our Republican leadership has basically said, don’t do them,” Fleischmann said. “Most people have listened. Others, who have not, have rued the day that they did that. There have been people injured at these things.”