Frustrated Idaho constituents say they fear for Social Security at Lewiston town hall

A Lewiston town hall hosted by former U.S. Reps. Richard Stallings and Larry LaRocco drew roughly 200 attendees on Saturday morning.

The Congressmen, who have been holding town halls around Idaho, said the meeting was one of the largest they’d held. LaRocco said they plan to write a report based on feedback they received from the town halls to present to Congress.

The former Congressmen said Congressional representatives were complicit in what they believe to be illegal action by the Trump administration. That includes immigration crackdowns on legal residents and allowing the Department of Government Efficiency, which is overseen by unelected tech billionaire Elon Musk, access to people’s sensitive information.

It’s a sentiment that seemed to be shared by many of the constituents who came to the town hall. Barbara Bird, 83, has lived in Lewiston for 40 years.

“ I worry about DOGE getting into Social Security. I worry about our safety,” she said. “Our representatives are not doing their job. They’re not representing us. They’re not listening to the people who elected them.  They should remember that when the next election comes up.”

Many other attendees said they were worried about Social Security. 

A different audience member asked for a raise of hands among those who would be in trouble without their Social Security check. About a third to half of the room’s hands went up.

“ We’ve gotta prioritize,” that audience member said. “For me, that looks like something about Social Security, because if we don’t have income, how can we stand up and fight for anything else?”

Stallings said one part of government where he believes people are doing their job is the courts.

“The courts are holding. If Trump defies a court order, then we really are at a constitutional crisis,” he said. “Then, I think the only recourse we have is to demonstrate in such huge numbers.”

Several people, to loud applause, expressed frustration with the Democratic Party for not taking more decisive action. 

“Democrats talk and talk and Republicans steal Supreme Court justices. They make things happen. And I think people see that,” said attendee Alex Church. “Republicans every time make things happen while Democrats say, ‘Well, maybe next time in two years.’”

Attendees spent much of the town hall discussing political strategy in a time when they feel unheard by their representatives. Kenneth Parham, of Lewiston, spoke in favor of a more aggressive political strategy.

“When you look at how things are going, it’s — it’s there. So, we have to play hardball and not softball,” he said.

Other residents noted the need to engage with young people. Several mentioned the energy young people expressed for U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders during his presidential campaign in 2016. 

One speaker, who identified herself as Mariah, said she works as a teacher and believes the Democratic Party hasn’t done enough to engage young voters.

“Young people, they’ve never felt they were the target audience. They never felt like they were heard, and they never felt like their vote mattered in this state, honestly,” she said. “We don’t believe that they (Democratic leadership) have a backbone. And the high road is not working anymore.”

Stallings said one of his goals is to recruit more people to run for office.

“ I’d like some people that are a little more responsible to their constituents. And I don’t care if it’s Democrats — I might prefer Democrats obviously — but if Republicans take a step up to that, I’ll give them the same support because this is a constitutional crisis,” he said. 

Stallings and LaRocco hosted another town hall at Moscow’s 1912 Center on Saturday evening. That event drew a roughly 200 person crowd.

Attendees at a Saturday town hall in Lewiston talk to each other while waiting for the event to begin. (Credit: Rachel Sun / NWPB)