Protesters greet Green at Town Hall

Protestors march outside the town hall meeting.

BAYTOWN — Congressman Gene Green is used to attending town hall meetings with low attendance. Last week was an exception.

Over 400 people turned out for a town hall meeting hosted by the congressman at Sterling Municipal Library in Baytown. The majority was not silent, with many of those in attendance protesting Green, President Obama or the government in general either by voice or sign.

Among the complaints was that Green’s office was checking the ID of those attending, and allowing only those who reside within Green’s Congressional District into the meeting room. One protester questioned why Green was opposed Voter ID, but required an ID at what was supposed to be a public meeting.

When Green arrived at the site, he welcomed with boos and catcalls. One constituent, however, congratulated Green on having the backbone to show up at the meeting.

“I have been doing these meetings for 20 years,” Green replied, “And I’m not going to stop now.”

Security was also heavy at the meeting, with the sheriff ’s office, constable’s office and local police department represented in uniform.

Despite the large crowd that gathered for the meeting only about one fourth actually got in to hear Green speak. The meeting room has a maximum capacity of 100 people and a representative from the fire marshal’s office was there to make sure the crowd did not exceed to the 100-person limit.

Green apologized for the size of the room, saying he had used the room many times in the past and it had never been a problem before. When he reserved the room in June, he added, he had no idea the attendance would be so large and once he realized he would need more space it was too late to find another meeting place.

Green defended his decision to only let constituents into the meeting. “They (the protesters) come from outside the district and monopolize the time of the people in the district.” Before the ID checks began, Green said, some 60% of the attendance lived outside the district.

Green started the meeting voicing his support of the Cap and Trade program, which allows chemical plants to purchase “carbon credits” rather than reduce emissions in order to comply with EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) standards. Green admitted the bill was not perfect but it was the best they could do, considering the amount of compromises required to bring the bill up for a vote.

Green did not back down from the Health care issue.

After “untold public hearings” and “30 to 40 times it was amended” Congress had a health care plan, which Green says will not affect public debt. The bill, he said, will be paid for “by tax increases and other cuts.”

Green also took the time to take jabs at the Bush Administration, suggesting that the nation’s financial situation was because of tax cuts and big business bailouts.

The question and answer period was when the anger came out, and the shouting began. The first question posed to Green was “Why are you and every other politician in Washington exempt from the Health Care Bill?”

Green explained that anyone with employer-provided health care is exempted from the bill, and that congressmen, like all federal employees, receive employer-provided health care.

Green was also asked, “why should we back something that is being pushed by someone who has not proved they are a U.S. citizen?”

The question referred to Obama opponents who say that he was not born in Hawaii as he claims, but rather in Africa and that he is ineligible to serve as president.

Green responded that the health care plan does not provide services for non-citizens.