Amash: Time Has Come for a Change in Direction, or a “New Speaker”

LISTEN TO TLR’S LATEST PODCAST:


By Kody Fairfield

Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI) has been a liberty firebrand who is never afraid to speak his mind. And that is exactly what he did during a town hall, where he mentioned that when it comes to the Speaker of the House, it is time for “a change in direction from this speaker, or we need a new speaker.”

Amash said Monday the solution for dysfunction in Washington likely boils down to removing House Speaker Paul Ryan and replacing him with someone who is “nonpartisan,” reported Fox17.

“We need either a change in direction from this speaker, or we need a new speaker,” Amash said while answering a question about the perpetual gridlock in Washington, according to Fox17.

Amash’s town hall comes one week after the White House director of social media, Dan Scavino, called on the “#Trumptrain” to run over Amash in a Republican primary because of his opposition to the effort to overhaul Obamacare. Amash fired back, saying the attack was proof the “Trumpstablishment” doesn’t support independent thinkers, reported Fox17.

Amash reportedly took questions for over 2 hours.

Beyond his statements on the Speaker, Amash was also critical of President Donald Trump, and when he received some brush back on his comments in which he stated that Congress is the branch that is closest to the people, a factual and true statement based on our founding, Amash said, “I’m the one holding a town hall here, not Donald Trump,” says Fox17.

Fox17 explained that Amash then said that he didn’t think Trump could handle a town hall in any district.

He continued in on the President and Speaker, “When we go home for the weekend, they give us a set of talking points. They say ‘here are your talking points'” Amash said, holding up a sheet of paper, according to Fox17. “That’s not the way you’re supposed to represent a community.”

Ryan’s office declined to comment on Amash’s remarks. CNN reached out to the White House for comment on the congressman’s remarks about the President but did not receive a response, said Fox17.

Also touched on during the town hall was Amash’s support for the release of Trump’s tax returns, to which he received applause, explained Fox17.

Amash is hosting three town halls this week, and touted his openness to the exceedingly polite Western Michigan crowd (which lacked the screaming and chanting that have made other town halls national spectacles,) accordingto Fox17.

Fox17, mentioned that other lawmakers have held closed meetings, avoided town halls or, in one case, been the beneficiary of a busload of Trump supporters, who fought back against angry progressive activists. Ryan’s office as of Monday night has refused to make public any town halls scheduled for Congress’ two-week recess.

WATCH:

Follow Kody on Twitter.
Send news tips to EICfairfieldTLR@Gmail.com.

WATCH TLR’S LATEST VIDEO:

Leave a Comment