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U.S. Rep Fallon, University Host 'Town Hall' In Commerce

U.S. Rep. Pat Fallon addressed about 150 people on the campus of Texas A&M Univeristy-Commerce on Wednesday.
KETR
U.S. Rep. Pat Fallon addressed about 150 people on the campus of Texas A&M Univeristy-Commerce on Wednesday.

U.S. Rep. Pat Fallon, the Republican congressman who represents Northeast Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives, addressed and took questions from about 150 people in an event on the campus of Texas A&M University-Commerce. Presented as a town hall meeting, the gathering was the first of 36 similar events Rep. Fallon plans to hold in 2021, his staff said.

Attendees were given a note card and asked to write a question for Fallon. The question cards were collected by the congressman’s staff and were read to Fallon by A&M-Commerce President Dr. Mark Rudin.

“I think really to save the country, and unify us, and have economic growth and the prosperity that we all want – it’s gotta be conservative populism,” Fallon said to attendees. “To tap into that inspiration that President Trump had for so many people, but not quite so abrasive.”

Fallon answered general questions about federal gun policy, the federal budget, and bipartisanship. One question asked about proposed governmental authority over the editorial policies of major social media companies, which Fallon favors, citing those platforms' roles as quasi-utilities. Fallon was also asked about a federal measure that would prohibit public discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation and gender identity (Fallon is opposed).

Fallon gave a short overview of current major federal legislation proposals  for about 20 minutes before addressing the audience questions for another 20 minutes. Following the presentation, Fallon spoke with members of the public for about 15-20 minutes.

In his remarks preceding the questions, Fallon reviewed proposed federal legislation, including measures addressing voting and election law, D.C. statehood (Fallon is opposed), and the Democratic infrastructure proposal, which Fallon described as a “socialist wish list.”

Fallon also described violent crime statistics in various U.S. cities he said resulted from reduced municipal police department budgets. Fallon also discussed international crime cartels that target migrants traveling from Central America to the U.S. border.

Mark Haslett has served at KETR since 2013. Since then, the station's news operation has enjoyed an increase in listener engagement and audience metrics, as well recognition in the Texas AP Broadcasters awards.