LEONARDVILLE — A large crowd greeted First District Congressman Tim Huelskamp of Kansas at a Town Hall in Leonardville Tuesday afternoon.
Topics ranged from veterans’ affairs to who the new Speaker of the House might be and Planned Parenthood. Huelskamp referred to previous speaker John Boehner who he says consolidated power, and limited amendments and debate, which he says harmed our institution and policy making process.
Madonna Stallmann of Leonardville spoke passionately about the death of her nephew, who she told the crowd took his life due to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, more commonly known as PTSD. Stallman concedes that Huelskamp and U-S Senator Jerry Moran of Manhattan have been working to change the the U-S Department of Veterans’ Affairs but likened it to a triage situation, saying something needs to be done about the PTSD crisis. She told KMAN following the Town Hall she was not satisfied with what Huelskamp had to say.
Veteran Gerald Burson was just one of those who spoke up at the Town Hall on a couple of subjects (pictured). Burson says he is concerned about the way the Veterans’ Administration has worked with his individual case and also about FEMA and the way his property on Dix in the Wildcat Creek floodplain has been dealt with.
The Congressman also addressed Planned Parenthood, which has been under scrutiny in recent months, although the recent 10 week budget approved included funding. Huelskamp told the large group in Leonardville Tuesday the budget that passed two days before the deadline included Planned Parenthood with threats from the President to veto if it was not included. Representative Huelskamp indicated to the crowd and after the Town Hall he’d like to defund the group and refers to trafficking of baby body parts. The Kansas Representative adds hopefully there will be criminal charges and he says he’s concerned about the use of public money for such a program.
Other questions during the Town Hall dealt with mental health issues, immigration, ISIS, term limits, gun control, and NBAF.
Huelskamp indicated following the Town Hall he senses frustration regarding the government that’s supposed to be working for them is working against them.
While he received applause a couple of times, a few in attendance including Stallman and Burson indicated they still had questions following the meeting that lasted over an hour.
