Before a crowd of about 50, U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, held a town hall meeting at Valparaiso City Hall Monday afternoon during which he gave an overview of his first term in office, areas of focus for the coming term and answered questions from the audience.
It was a like-minded group that seemed to share his liberal agenda and pushed him to make his voting record improving the economic lay of the land more understandable by the public at large.
Mrvan gave a debriefing of what he considers four key votes from the 117th Congress: the American Rescue Plan Act passed during the pandemic to pay for vaccines, get kids back in school and give out PPP loans; the Infrastructure Bill to improve roads, bridges, airports and waterways; the Chips & Science Act to end reliance on foreign microchips and semiconductors; and the Inflation Reduction Act that capped Medicare out-of-pocket costs at $2,000 for the first time in its history.
“For the first time since the Eisenhower Administration we decided it was important to invest in our infrastructure,” Mrvan told the crowd. He also spoke of his work as co-chair of the Steel Caucus supporting the Buy American Provision.
“We’re the top steel-producing region in the nation and I want to make sure it stays that way,” he said.
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It was during the question and answer portion of the meeting when Mrvan got his first enthusiastic applause as he addressed a slew of questions written on cards from the audience on his stance on protecting a woman’s right to reproductive freedom.
“And we also want to make sure that you understand always that I am someone who protects women’s reproductive rights,” he said to loud applause.
Other audience members wanted to know where Mrvan is on gun control these days.
“With the escalation of mass shootings, and I believe there was one today,” he said he continues to support his past record of voting for an assault weapons ban. He would also like to see magazine clips limited to 10 bullets, background checks on all points of sale, and a ban on the manufacture, sale, and distribution of all assault rifles.
He said he respects gun ownership, hunting, and passing guns down within a family. “I am not Pollyannaish, but if you take that assault weapon off the street we can continue to save lives,” he said.
Richard Sumney, a retired steelworker from Chesterton, and his wife Bonita, had arrived early. They and others toting signs with messages such as “Co-sign the Medicare for All Bill” were there to find out where Mrvan stands regarding House Bill 1976 submitted in the last session of Congress by Rep. Camilla Jayapal, a Democrat from California.
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“I’m sure it’s similar to what Bernie Sanders was pushing in his day,” Richard Sumney said. When asked why a retired steelworker and veteran would be concerned about expanding Medicare to younger generations he said, “I’m a Marine. It’s not about me. It’s about us.”
“No one should lose their house because of medical bills,” Bonita Sumney added. “I think we’re the only democratic type of country that doesn’t support Medicare for all of its citizens.”
The Sumneys’ group submitted a question asking “What’s your hang-up supporting Medicare for All?” Mrvan replied, “My hang-up is that it is a piece of legislation that has a cost and that cost has to be put into place. I’m not a no-vote,” but want to make sure the votes and funding are in place.
Bob Schwartz challenged Mrvan to get steelworkers on his side. “They’re not with you,” he said. “I would suggest that you try to get to the heart of people with issues like reproductive care.”
Mrvan said he can’t operate like folks who think politics is a zero-sum if-I-win-you-lose-game. He said he pulled President Joe Biden aside after the last State of the Union Address and thanked him for having an iron worker in his box, and asked him to please consider Northwest Indiana for a hydrogen hub, because the region is ripe.
“You’re the stereotype of the quiet, hardworking person who gets things done, but doesn’t get any credit for it,” Gary Brown, of Valparaiso, told Mrvan, lamenting state representatives telling people to get small business loans that Mrvan and his party voted into existence.
“I will never participate in divisive politics,” was Mrvan’s reply.
Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Rep. Mrvan will host four additional forums on Tuesday in Lake County.
Noon -1 p.m. at Purdue Extension-Lake County, 2293 North Main Street, Crown Point, Indiana 46307
2-3 p.m. at Indiana University Northwest, Anderson Library Conference Center, Room #105, 3400 Broadway, Gary. Attendees should park in Lot 3.
4-5 p.m. at Calumet College of St. Joseph, Room #200 of Main Building, 2400 New York Avenue, in Whiting. From New York Avenue, enter College Boulevard. Turn right at the Gaspar Avenue stop sign to enter the parking lot
6-7 p.m. at the Wicker Park Social Center, 2215 Ridge Road, in Highland.
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