Local View: Herrera Beutler phone-in town hall fair, civil and efficient

No hour of travel back and forth. No rude protesters. Many more people in attendance.

The event occurred during the government shutdown brouhaha, forcing Herrera Beutler to remain in the other Washington. Nonetheless, the telephone format permitted the program to go on. Listeners benefited from an on-the-scene briefing. Herrera Beutler emphasized her view that government shutdowns should never be used as negotiating leverage by either party.

The 70-minute program was an entirely civil exchange of information. The 10 questioners, from Goldendale, White Salmon, La Center and Vancouver, were all upset about something — the secret FBI memo, President Trump’s failings, the tax reform bill, immigration, health care, federal mismanagement of our region’s forests, and the national debt.

All were respectful. The exchanges with Herrera Beutler were civil, ranging from two to 10 minutes. Several questioners asked three-part questions, and Herrera Beutler patiently deconstructed them.

Nuanced answers

Herrera Beutler’s answers were spontaneous, factual and nuanced. She found common ground with several critical questioners (“On this point, I agree with you.”) She characterized her district as right-of-center but independent. She observed that this independence gives her unique perspective in working with representatives across the political divide.

She argued forcefully and with convincing command of the facts in favor of the Republican tax reform and an immigration compromise. She was passionate in calling for better federal forest management, and for incorporating superior approaches from state and private forest lands. She termed Oregon’s plan to toll I-5 and I-205 a “hair-brained scheme” that she would fight “tooth and nail.” She acknowledged the critical role of Washington’s U.S. senators and of Gov. Jay Inslee in working with Oregon officials.

One call highlighted the value of the telephone format. “David from Vancouver” was a self-described advocate for the hard of hearing, using specialized telephone software to hear clearly. His concern was that the end of net neutrality would raise the cost or diminish the quality of the internet service used by those with a hearing disability. Herrera Beutler quickly recognized the caller’s voice from a previous meeting, and arranged for her staff expert to gather his information.

There will always be a place for in-person public meetings, but no one should minimize the great value of telephone town halls. They offer equal access to all, including the disabled, reach many more people, and avoid entirely the rude demonstrations that are all too common today.

That taxpayers save the cost of police protection is just the icing on the cake.