Residents asked questions about air quality, corporate influence, election security, affordable housing and immigration policy.
“We’re spending money to build these camps, and I don’t’ understand why we’re doing this to people who don’t deserve it.”
But the overarching concern was slowing or stopping Republican policies. U. S. Representative Hillary Scholten of Grand Rapids answered this way.
“I and my Democratic colleagues are pulling every single lever at our disposal right now to make sure we can slow the degradation of our democracy. But unfortunately, elections have consequences, right? And because Republicans won all three branches of government, it is incredibly challenging to stop them.’
Scholten noted as the minority, Democrats need cooperation from at least some Republicans to have effective opposition.
“We often just need three or four brave Republicans to join with us. So that’s where I come back and say don’t ever doubt the power of your voice in asking Republicans to join with us in our initiatives to move legislation forward, to demand greater accountability and transparency and get some of these bills passed into law.”
