OPINION: Let’s meet. Let’s talk

Former Congressmen Richard Stallings and Larry LaRocco invite all residents of Idaho's five northern counties to attend a public Town Hall from 2:30-4 p.m. Sunday, March 23, at Templin’s on the River, Post Falls. There is no fee to attend. 

For details and to RSVP to reserve your seat, visit: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/demstownhall.

Richard Stallings represented Idaho’s 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House from 1985 to 1993, focusing on issues like nuclear waste disposal and agricultural policy. Larry LaRocco served Idaho’s 1st Congressional District from 1991 to 1995, advocating for veterans' affairs and economic development.

Reps. Stallings and La Rocco echo the sentiments of many Idahoans: We are appalled at the wrecking ball wielded by President Trump and unelected billionaire Elon Musk on our state, country and global allies. 

Equally disappointing are the complicity and silence of the Idaho congressional delegation in this authoritarian takeover. Idahoans deserve to be heard. 

That’s why La Rocco and Stallings are filling the vacuum with town hall meetings to listen to you, our nation’s bosses.

A narrow presidential victory with razor thin margins in Congress does not give the Republican Party a mandate to ignore established law, destroy norms, threaten allies and demolish the Constitutional safeguards our country’s founders intended.

As former members of Congress from Idaho, La Rocco and Stallings say, “We took an oath of office to serve our country and protect our Constitution. We understand the checks and balances in the three branches of government that have guided our democracy through world conflicts and domestic crises. … Our oath compelled us to push back against executive branch policies that harmed our country.”

The future of our country is not a Republican or Democratic issue. It is a responsibility we should all take seriously. 

Yes, La Rocco and Stallings are Democrats and committed public servants. But sometimes they voted contrary to the Democratic party when their consciences dictated. They pride themselves in working tirelessly for common sense solutions based on Idaho values.

Democratic lawmakers both today and in the past routinely held town hall meetings to gauge citizens’ reactions on the issues of the day. These local forums were intended to provide firsthand perspectives from fellow Idahoans.

Voters’ concerns covered the spectrum of local and national policies: health care, national security, agriculture, public lands, budgets, foreign assistance, privacy.

This age of voter interaction doesn’t have to be a bygone era. When returning to D.C. from a weekend or recess in Idaho, Stallings and La Rocco recalled colleagues from both sides of the aisle invariably starting a conversation with, “How did your town halls go?”

“If you believe our elected representatives have their fingers in their ears, we want to hear from you,” Stallings said. “That’s why we are holding town hall meetings across Idaho to re-ignite the true American notion that your views matter. Our desire to listen, learn and become informed still burns with us.”

When was the last time you were invited to meet with your senator or congressman?

Reps. Stallings and La Rocco will listen and learn, just like before. They can sense your utter frustration with the deafening silence from our congressional delegation. Protests are mounting across America and Idaho. 

Our elected officials are hiding and hoping; hoping you don’t care about your privacy, tariff-induced inflation, the mismanagement of our public lands, the misrule of law, checks and balances and disrespect for allies. 

The loudest and most frequent chant from a recent rally in Boise was, “Do your job.” That should be a bumper sticker, a constitutional reminder to all Idaho elected officials.

Idahoans need to revive traditional and historical lines of communication and discourse. Reps. Stallings and La Rocco fill that vacuum.

They’re a bit grayer than the pictures on their congressional IDs, but they haven’t lost one gram of their love for Idaho, America and our precious democracy.

We hope to see you soon at our Town Hall. Join us, won’t you?

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Evan Koch is chairman of the Kootenai County Democrats.