Congress Tom Reed will be hold a series of Town Hall Meetings on Saturday, February 20. He has not announced his schedule, yet, but the Town of Starkey (Yates) Clerk let the secret out when she announced that he will be at their Town Hall between 3:30 and 4:30. Even though Tom’s Handlers know the location and times of these meetings, they do not announce them until a few days before the event. Are they trying to keep the audience small?

If you hear about any other Town Hall meetings scheduled please let the NY23rd know. We will try to get the word out.

We recently compared Reed to a chameleon–he presents his view on issues one way when he is talking to his constituents, and another way when he is around his political cronies. We should hold Rep. Reed accountable for his actions and his words.

The example we used was his stance on Refugees. He presented one to NY23ers  at Town Hall meetings and the district’s newspapers, and a different one in DC to his Washington Pals when he votes the Party Line.

Another chameleonic change happened on Reed’s views on Planned Parenthood. In June at a Big Flats Town Hall meeting he promised a high school student that he would support funding Planned Parenthood.

Then on July 21, hidden-camera videos were released, by anti-choice activists. They supposedly proved that Planned Parenthood sold aborted fetus parts for profit. On July 31 Rep. Reed had press release that in part said:

“In light of the recent appalling revelations regarding Planned Parenthood, I join the voices calling for suspension of federal funding pending a full investigation into the alleged harvesting and sale of human body parts.”

Republicans used the Planned Parenthood videos as a rallying point to try to shut the government down, again.

In January a Texas Grand Jury dropped charges of a Houston Planned Parenthood clinic which was accused of selling  the organs of aborted fetuses. and instead indicted the undercover videographers behind the allegations.

It would be proper to ask Rep. Reed if he has changed his mind on cutting Planned Parenthood funds since the case was found to be unsubstantiated.

Of course there are other issues that our congressman has changed his colors on. For example, on March 3, 2015, Rep. Reed voted AGAINST funding the Department of Homeland Security for the rest of the budget year. He was one of two New York Representatives to voted against H.R. 240.

The  six New York republican representatives who voted to fund Homeland Security issued the following statement before the vote, hoping to sway Rep. Reed and Rep. Lee Zeldin, who voted with Reed.

“DHS is critical to our national security–ISIS is a real threat to America, and we must provide full funding to keep New York and our country safe. We urge the rest of our colleagues to join us in supporting legislation to fund DHS.”

The bill passed and President Obama signed the law the next day.

In November 2015 after the Paris Attack,  Rep. Reed felt differently on the value of Homeland Security said,

“The wide bipartisan support transcends what traditionally divides us as we fight to defend our homeland. It’s only right that we put the interests of the American people first and make sure the right kind of security is in place.”

It would also be proper to ask Rep. Reed’s about the 180 degree turn around on the value of Homeland Security.

Refugees, Planned Parenthood and Homeland Security. All topics that should be brought up at Reed’s Town Hall meetings. Remember, his “actions” (votes) speak louder than his words. Let’s get many to listen to his “actions.”