Rep. Costello: Telephone Town Halls Connect 100,000 Households

U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello (R-PA 6) held two telephone town halls last week that connected him to 100,000 random households, his office said in a report released to the public on Monday.

Telephone town halls held by Republican Congressmen across the nation have come under fire in recent weeks by constituents who think they are dodging in-person events. The GOP lawmakers say they are holding events via telephone after several town halls around the nation drew raucous crowds and quickly became out of hand. President Trump has weighed in on the issue on Twitter, claiming that the loud protesters were pre-planned by "liberal activists."

Costello represents a large swath of Chester County, in addition to gerrymandered pieces of Montgomery, Berks, and Lebanon counties. In Chester County, 6th district communities include all or parts of Caln, Charlestown, East Bradford, East Brandywine, Easttown, East Whiteland, North Coventry, Schuylkill, South Coventry, Thornbury, Tredyffrin, Upper Uwchlan, West Bradford, West Goshen, West Pikeland, West Vincent, West Whiteland, Westtown, Willistown, Downingtown, Malvern, Phoenixville, Spring City, and West Chester.

A group called the Concerned Citizens of District 6 recently held a town hall meeting at Phoenixville High School. Costello was invited but declined, calling it a "political stunt." The town hall addressed topics like the Affordable Care Act, protection of the environment, education and public school support, immigration, sanctuary cities, and governmental ethics.

Nearby, Montgomery County's U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA 13) has planned a series of town halls in person over the next several months.

Costello's report noted that technology enabled him to connect with a broad constituent base. He said participants were able to stream an audio feed live, submit questions on Facebook, and instantly listen to the recording of the event afterwards.

Costello is on his second term in Congress after a convincing defeat of Democratic candidate Mike Parrish last November.

Image courtesy Ryan Costello for Congress