Bishop fires back at critics planning town hall without him

• Town hall meeting organized by Bishop's critics
• April 11; 6:30-8:30 p.m.
• Crystal Gardens Banquet Center, 5768 E. Grand River Avenue, Genoa Township

U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop is firing back at critics who say he has not done enough to address constituents in Michigan's 8th District who oppose repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act and disagree with his stance on other Trump administration policy issues.

A grassroots group of individuals who have attended protests at his Brighton office invited Bishop to appear at an April town hall event they are planning. He said he has no plans to attend.

Confirmed speakers include a candidate for governor, Bishop's former challenge in last year's election and the chair of the Michigan Democratic Party, among others.

"I am aware of the event. I had zero say over the date this group picked. It seems to be more of a political stunt than an opportunity to have real dialog," Bishop said in a written statement.

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Bishop has hosted numerous tele-town hall conferences over the phone and met with groups of constituents, efforts Gretchen Cross Hertz, one of the town hall organizers, said don't go far enough.

"I would respectfully disagree that tele-townhalls are not an adequate way to communicate with constituents. I serve hundreds of thousands of people in the Eighth District, many of which have problems that require assistance from me and my team regarding benefits, tax problems, passport issues. ...And so far this year, I’ve contacted more than 85,000 households for our tele-townhall events," Bishop said.

He said he regularly meets with constituents and groups, include 17 events last year.

"I’ve personally held more than 40 meetings with constituents and Eighth District-focused groups this year. We also have a jam-packed voting schedule these first 100 days," he said.

Bishop indicated the grassroots group's upcoming town hall is a different matter.

"What people don’t like is that I won’t participate in the town halls they are calling for. These events are based on fear tactics, to scare people into assuming they will lose their health care. People have got to try and stop stirring the pot of human emotion. The fear of losing healthcare is not something we should threaten people with. Republicans are not going to pull the rug out from under people," he said. "I see their passion, but let’s have a discussion instead of making this a spectacle."

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The town hall meeting will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. April 11 at Crystal Garden Banquet Center, 5768 E. Grand River Avenue in Genoa Township.

"I think it's an obligation to meet face-to-face with constituents who oppose him," Gretchen Cross Hertz, one of the town hall organizers said.

Hertz said if Bishop were to attend, he would be given time to speak and answer people's questions, and she would leave a planned cardboard cutout out of it. In his absence, Hertz said the group will put up a cardboard cutout of the Republican congressman and record on video people asking his effigy questions.

Fellow town hall organizer Nicole Breadon of Clarkston said they are preparing answers to questions people will likely ask.

"We're gathering quotes, so we'll give answers that we think he would make in real life, based on statements he's made in the past," Breadon said.

Confirmed speakers, according to Breadon, include:

• Democrat and candidate for governor Abdul El-Sayed
• Democrat Suzanna Shkreli, who ran against Bishop last year
• Democrat Darlene Dominak, who has said she is running for U.S. Rep. of Michigan's 8th District in 2018
• Michigan Democratic Party Chair Brandon Dillon
• Stuart Collis, a Green Party member and the chairman of the Ypsilanti Township Park Commission
• Michigan State University criminal justice professor Christopher Smith, who runs the blog www.repmikebishopwatch.net
• Eastern Michigan University education professor and autism expert Sally Burton-Hoyle
• Karen Moss, who will speak about anti-gerrymandering efforts

The group, which was inspired by the Indivisible movement, will hold another protest at 11 a.m. Friday in front of Bishop's office in Brighton, organizers said.

Contact Livingston Daily reporter Jennifer Eberbach at 517-548-7148 or at jeberbach@livingstondaily.com. Follow her on Twitter @JenEberbach