Westbrook, MAINE - In case you missed it, WABI TV5 reported yesterday on a group of concerned Maine veterans who gathered outside of Congressman Bruce Poliquin’s office in Bangor to ask him not to support the newly-released GOP Farm Bill because it would result in many low-income Maine people not receiving the food assistance they need - a function of the Congressman’s own harmful proposals.
As seen in the WABI report, the veterans tried to bring their concerns directly to the Congressman’s staff, but were unsuccessful. Instead, Poliquin’s office was closed - a sign noted that visits were by appointment only - and the veterans were ultimately forced to slide their letters under the door and leave.
Congressman Poliquin’s constituents have long expressed concerns about his inaccessibility. Phone calls to his office have gone unanswered and his Bangor office is not accessible for many Maine people with disabilities. The Congressman frequently avoids voicing his views on issues, including whether or not he voted for President Trump, and has literally run away from constituents in senior living facilities. At one point, to avoid answering questions from a reporter about how he would vote on the GOP health care bill, he ran into a women’s restroom.
Maine Democratic Party Chairman Phil Bartlett issued the following statement:
“Maine people have long enjoyed access to their members of Congress, regardless of political party. In fact, when you look at Senators Collins and King and Congresswoman Pingree, none of them wall themselves off to Maine people like Congressman Poliquin does.
“Democracy is premised on people's right to express their thoughts to their representatives or their staff - and every time Congressman Poliquin makes it harder for them to do so, he erodes those rights and undermines Democracy.
“Poliquin will undoubtedly make excuses to try to explain this away, but the fact remains that Senators Collins and King and Congresswoman Pingree don’t conduct themselves in this way, and neither should he. We’re just disappointed that Maine veterans had to experience it firsthand.”
###