Texas congressman takes questions on Epstein and Social Security during town hall : NPR
The member of the Texas Congress, Keith Self, has held one of the rare city halls of the GOP planned while the house is in summer recess. Voters asked questions about Social Security solvency as well as Jeffrey Epstein files.
Ailsa Chang, host:
While the house is in recess for the summer holidays, we follow the work of the legislators in their original districts, and this includes town halls. In northern Texas, the member of the Keith Self Congress held a meeting in person. It was limited to 60 people, its voters only. Bill Zeeble with the Kera member station in Dallas was there to have an idea of what they wanted to know.
Bill Zeeble, succule: the third district of the congress has been reliably for years, but the crowd of voters included more than the Republicans.
(Soundbit of archived registration)
Keith Self: Well, why don’t we start as we always do? Pray.
Zeeble: After opening with a prayer, Keith Self, now in his second term, spoke to the crowd of the big law on Big Beautiful Bill, now Law. He congratulated the cancellation package of $ 9 billion which recovered certain funds allocated to the public media, while most would have gone to Alited Aid.
(Soundbit of archived registration)
Self: If a non-governmental organization cannot survive without government money, is it really a non-governmental organization? What it shows to everyone is that there is too much federal government.
Zeeble: Several voters said they were worried about a sub-financed social security system. Without modifications, payments should drop by around 23% by 2033. The constituent Mitchell Benkufsky (PH) offered a solution. He suggested increasing the ceiling on taxable income to provide more money to social security.
(Soundbit of archived registration)
Mitchell Benkufsky: I would say that most people in this room pay social security with each pay check. So, if I can pay for it and everyone in this room can pay there every day …
(APPLAUSE)
Benkufsky: … Mr. Bezos, who paid social security for three minutes this year.
Zeeble: A representative responded to what social security was like touching the third risky rail.
(Soundbit of archived registration)
Me: And I’m happy to be your voice, but right now, I’m a voice in the desert on this subject. I will tell you that it does not have a juice in the congress.
Zeeble: Some voters have also asked questions about Epstein files connected to the sex offender sentenced to the end Jeffrey Epstein. According to Said, release the files.
(Soundbit of archived registration)
Self: And I don’t mind repelling leadership because, as I said, you have all been promised for so long. We have to get there.
Zeeble: Some also questioned the character of President Trump. The Congress member rejected them. After about an hour, Self called the end of the meeting, one of the only town halls in person planned so far this recess by a republican of the house. For NPR News, I am Bill Zeeble in Dallas.
(Soundbite of Badbadnotgood Song, “Food”)
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