Audience members at a town hall on Monday accused Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV) of being a “rubber stamp” for President Donald Trump’s policies and giving “fuzzy answers.”
“We live here, we work here, save our health care!” audience members chanted before Heller took the stage for a joint event with Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV).
Here's the crowd at today's Sen. Dean Heller and Rep. Mark Amodei town hall in Reno. Many more outside. #NVSen pic.twitter.com/2BRp2ymuq0
— Eric Bradner (@ericbradner) April 17, 2017
"Save our health care! We live here, we work here!" The chant just heard @ #HellerTownHall. #NVSen pic.twitter.com/wLkUnfnaG9
— Nevada Forward (@NevadaForward) April 17, 2017
After Heller took the stage, the audience began a chant of “Answer the question!”
Chants of "Answer The Question" break out at @SenDeanHeller's town hall… On the very first question. #NVSen #NVtownhall pic.twitter.com/5UWQkeW1GU
— American Bridge (@American_Bridge) April 17, 2017
While answering questions, Heller put some distance between himself and Trump’s administration.
“When I think Trump is right I’ll support him,” Heller said. “When I don’t, I won’t and I will certainly try to change his mind.”
Nevertheless, one attendee called Heller a “rubber stamp” for Trump’s policy positions.
Another audience member told Heller, to applause: “Grow up, open your mouth and talk.”
.@SenDeanHeller @PPact "Grow up, open your mouth and talk." #NVSen pic.twitter.com/civyluFCy3
— Eric Bradner (@ericbradner) April 17, 2017
"You need to dump your phone message box, which has been full for the last three months," a voter tells @DeanHeller. #NVSen
— Eli Yokley (@eyokley) April 17, 2017
.@SenDeanHeller now shouting over a woman with multiple sclerosis asking about her health care coverage. Sweet Lord.
— Tim Hogan (@timjhogan) April 17, 2017
.@SenDeanHeller @PPact A must-see scene from the @SenDeanHeller town hall: He's pressed — hard — on pre-existing conditions by a woman with MS. #NVSen pic.twitter.com/TW9109UuFt
— Eric Bradner (@ericbradner) April 17, 2017
One audience member accused Heller of giving “fuzzy answers,” according to a report by the Hill.
“You don’t really represent me anymore,” another attendee said, according to the Hill. “You need to start listening to the concerns of your constituents and I think you lost that.”
At a closed-door meeting in March, constituents jeered at Heller and called him a liar, according to a report by Politico. He subsequently announced plans to vote against House Republican’s bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.
Heller is one of the more vulnerable Republican senators running for re-election in 2018.
