Jan NorrisMore than 1,000 constituents pack three town halls.
U.S. Rep. Brian Mast called the three town halls he ran last week “what democracy is all about.”
Giving his constituents a voice for their concerns — in often loud voices — Mast faced more than 1,000 of them last week in Jupiter Farms, Palm City and Port St. Lucie churches.
“We aren’t going to agree on everything. It’s like being around the Thanksgiving dinner table. Sometimes you don’t agree on everything with your own flesh and blood.”
What everyone did agree on was that they were grateful for the chance to speak directly with Mast.
Mast’s decision to hold the sessions came as some Republican members of Congress have held back from holding town halls and others have faced sharp criticism over the policies of President Donald Trump.
- The congressman limited the audience to people who lived in his district. They were required to show identification to prove it.
- Mast gave participants 90 seconds to speak. Shouting from both sides punctuated the meetings. At Calvary Church in Jupiter Farms, shouts of “baby killer” riled the audience, and there was shoving. A man wearing an “I am an immigrant” T-shirt was escorted out.
Social Security and veteran benefits were a top priority with the crowds that skewed heavily senior.
Mast said Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid will not be touched, thanks to a congressional resolution that protects essential programs and President Trump’s promise not to cut the money paid to seniors.
The crowds were not convinced.
Several pointed to closed Social Security offices, including Melbourne’s, and long hold times on the phone to reach agents, only to be told they must make an appointment.
‘Call my office.’
The congressman offered his staff as workers for “anyone who calls,” saying, “Call my office. I don’t care if you’re a Republican or Democrat or not registered to vote.”
“We work for you.”
Mast drew the loudest boos when he said that DOGE was only an accounting department, and “does not make decisions.”
Mast’s support of DOGE leader Elon Musk was unwavering. “I think he’s doing a fantastic job.”
He cited the elimination of programs that boosted tourism in Tunisia, paid for drag shows in Ecuador and provided condoms for the Taliban. “These will never again see the light of day,” Mast said.
A Reuters fact check could find no evidence to support the condom claim.
Other hot-button issues:
Immigrants expelled without due process
Mast supported without exception the deportation of any person in the United States illegally, including Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
Veterans Affairs cuts
The Trump administration has announced plans to eliminate 80,000 workers at the V.A., and there are questions about how that will affect access to benefits.
Veterans asked Mast, “Why are you, a veteran, allowing it to happen?”
The congressman pointed to the waste he said was found by DOGE in the V.A.
Mast’s and the GOP’s lockstep loyalty to the president
The longest standing ovation came when a veteran town hall asked: “Why is it not OK for immigrants to break the law, but it is OK for the president to break the law? Why won’t Congress stand up to the president?”
One described the breakdown as a constitutional crisis.
Speakers reminded Mast several times he had sworn an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution as a serviceman and congressman.
“I support the president 100 percent and think he’s doing a great job,” Mast said.
Many in the crowd booed.
Dismantling FEMA
A speaker in Port St. Lucie, who identified herself as a Florida Realtor, said FEMA programs that would prevent or lessen storm damage were cut.
Mast answered, “FEMA was burning money.” To loud jeers, he said the agency provided luxury hotel rooms for illegal immigrants.
Politifact, a fact-checking project run by the Florida-based Poynter Institute, found that claim false.
Wasteful spending will be stopped, he said, to more jeers.
After answering four-and-a-half hours of questions, Mast was asked how he thought the town halls went., “Fantastic,” he said. “This is democracy in action.”
