Around 300 people packed into Seward High School for U.S. Rep. Mike Flood’s Tuesday night town hall meeting.
In a heated back-and-forth Q&A session, constituents voiced concerns about several issues, including potential cuts to Medicaid and veterans’ services.
During a tense hour of questions, some attendees shouted down answers they believed didn’t align with Flood’s actions in Congress.
Flood began his town hall by addressing the elephant in the room -- the large national debt counter projected above the stage. He called the rising debt a “national security issue” and said reducing it was his top priority. He also discussed working to extend the 2017 tax cuts, expanding affordable housing and his recent work with the VA system.
He kept his opening remarks short.
“I know some of you are angry, I know some of you are upset,” Flood said. “I know some of you are worried, and I know some of you are supportive of the things that are happening in our country. Tonight is your night.”
After Flood started the question-and-answer portion, the conversation immediately shifted to the budget reconciliation bill. Shouts erupted from the crowd as Flood explained why he voted for the bill that adds $4.3 trillion to the deficit while cutting spending.
“First and foremost, this bill is the first time in literally more than a generation that we made significant reductions in mandatory spending,” Flood said. “Furthermore, it allows us to extend the tax cuts that were proffered in 2017. Had those not been extended, low- and middle-class families would have seen, on average, a 23% tax increase.”
When constituents raised specific issues, like cuts to home care for people with developmental disabilities and supplemental Social Security income for veterans, Flood offered to personally meet with them.
Many questions were about these potential cuts, which Flood said he opposed outside of “waste, fraud and abuse.”
Flood was also asked about how he would hold President Trump accountable.
“If you don't act as a check and a balance on the executive branch when they're in violation, not only of the Constitution, but also of judicial orders, what exactly is the purpose of Congress?” one constituent asked.
Flood responded by saying he supports the president, but they don’t always agree.
“When I see things that I do not think are right, I work on them, I speak out against them, and I stand up,” Flood said. “And I'm going to say this loud and clear: I voted for Donald Trump, and I support Donald Trump as president, and I don't want my comments today to be confused. Do I agree with every single thing he does? No.”
Other topics included support for public schools, a commitment to not raising taxes and his unwavering support for Israel’s continued attacks on the Gaza strip.
Flood himself described the event as “heated.” Several town halls have become heated affairs in recent months. Representatives across the country have faced blowback from constituents, mostly on deep budget cuts to the federal government.
In response to the negative press, Republican party leaders suggested lawmakers refrain from holding town halls or host them online.
Though his Columbus town hall in March came with similar criticism, Flood says he never questioned holding another.
“I think this comes with the job,” Flood said. “I have more in common with people that disagree with me because they're paying attention, and they care so much about what's happening here. I owe it to them to stand here and to answer their questions, and I will keep doing it.
Flood said there was no one “trucked in” and paid from outside Nebraska to cause a stir at the town halls. He said he recognized his constituents and wanted to address their concerns.
“When you cast a vote on something that you know that people in your district don't agree with, it makes me check and double check and check again to make sure that what I think is happening is actually happening, because I know I have to defend it to somebody that's going to be angry about it,” Flood said. “I have to be able to stand in front of them and answer their questions. If you disconnect from people that feel this strongly, it's hard to do your job in the right way."
In Nebraska, U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts also drew a critical crowd at his Kearney town hall in late April. The Q&A portion of his town hall was filled with jeers from protesting attendees. Ricketts hosted two other town halls in Valentine in Scottsbluff shortly after, as well as a tele-town hall.
U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer has not held a town hall since 2017 and declined debates with her 2024 opponent Dan Osborn. Her staff frequently holds office hours to address constituent concerns.
District 2 Rep. Don Bacon hosted a tele-town hall in March. District 3 Rep. Adrian Smith has not held a traditional town hall, but he answered questions during an in-person College Republicans’ event at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Smith’s website says he regularly calls constituents.
Flood represents around 650,000 people in Nebraska’s First Congressional District, which includes Lincoln, Bellevue, Norfolk, Fremont and Columbus. He won 60% of District 1 votes in the 2024 election.
He said his team will hold another town hall in Lincoln sometime in August.