Feb 21, 2017 3 min read

Billed as “Our Townhall With or Without Tim Murphy,” a meeting at Washington’s Courthouse Square Tuesday afternoon did without the congressman, who said he was never formally invited, and that such events have been marred by sound and fury rather than a constructive dialogue.

“I can’t go to something when I’m not invited,” Murphy said. The Republican, who represents the 18th Congressional District on Capitol Hill, further asserted that his name was “fraudulently” affixed to the event, which was sponsored by the Service Employees International Union and Tri-County Patriots for Independent Living. Kathleen Kleinman, chief executive officer for TRIPIL, said an invitation was extended to Murphy through his Washington, D.C., office, though she conceded there “may have been some confusion.”

With Congress in recess, many lawmakers have been finding angry crowds back in their states and home districts, with constituents dismayed about the possibility of the repeal of the Affordable Care Act and other proposals that have been made by the Trump administration in its first month. Murphy had, in fact, been scheduled to discuss mental-health legislation he shepherded through Congress at Duquesne University Tuesday afternoon, but he abruptly pulled out, citing “safety concerns.” The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported about a dozen protesters were outside the room in Duquesne’s student union where Murphy had been due to appear.

Murphy also said his offices had received many phone calls, some of which were “vile,” and that the callers were harassing his staffers and “preventing them from doing their jobs.”

“We live in an era of franchised angst and anger,” Murphy said. “It does not foster dialogue.”

Though Murphy’s absence was noted at the Courthouse Square meeting, much of it revolved around concerns about the possible repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Some of those in attendance said they were worried that Medicaid would be made into a block-grant program to states, with a corresponding drop in funding, while others said they were concerned insurance companies would once again be able to deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions.

Some also were unsettled by the possibility that the Affordable Care Act would be repealed before a replacement was in place.

TRIPIL membership coordinator Matthew Taylor, who was paralyzed in a diving accident in 2011, pointed out that catheters he needs to use the bathroom cost about $3,000 a year, “and that’s on top of all my other expenses.” He explained if the health law went away, he likely would be unable to get coverage due to his pre-existing condition.

Others talked about expensive prescription drugs that they or family members need, costly care that comes with having a special-needs child, or multiple and expensive afflictions they have suffered, from cancer to heart conditions.

“A lack of health care would literally make me sick,” said Brenda Dare, a TRIPIL staff member. “Right now, I’m one of the people who stands to lose a lot.”

Murphy said he supports measures that would, among other things, keep in place the health law’s provisions allowing people age 26 and younger to stay on their parents’ health plans, and preventing insurance companies from denying coverage because of pre-existing conditions.

“We don’t want to alienate anybody,” Kleinman said, referring to Murphy. “Getting other people to tell their stories is our specialty.”