I was one of the thousands on Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler’s phone “town hall.” Few people actually had an opportunity to ask questions, and a gentleman screened the questions.
I told him I would ask her if she supports HB 610, the Republican voucher bill that will impact public education, including special ed and after-school programs. I never got to ask the question although I stayed on the line the entire time and heard her say she wasn’t familiar with HB 610. Earlier, she said she keeps on top of anything that might impact special ed.
The phone “town hall” was mostly about listening to Herrera Beutler talk, as there were no back-and-forth conversations. It was a disappointing experience and, I believe, a shameful excuse for engaging with taxpayers.