Opinion: Brown Gives Unemployed Constituents Cold Shoulder in Natick

Massachusetts residents hoping to ask questions of their U.S. senator left the feeling shunned after Scott Brown made a sharp bee-line out a side exit to avoid contact with constituents at a last week. Unemployed workers attended the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce breakfast after learning that Brown was scheduled to deliver a keynote address on the themes of job creation, the economy, and small business— topics of great concern to out-of-work Bay State residents.

“I’ve spent months looking for work, but the jobs just aren’t out there,” said Rosa Davila, an unemployed constituent from Quincy. “I came to ask Scott Brown some basic questions about his votes against jobs, but I couldn’t get answers—he just gave me the cold shoulder.”

Scott Brown has often claimed job creation and small business assistance as top priorities in his campaign for re-election, but his record in the US Senate paints an entirely different picture [see the full fact sheet here.] Constituents had hoped to question Brown regarding his record on the themes of the speech— from his vote to slash an estimated 6,300 jobs for Massachusetts teachers and first responders (Senate vote #177, 10/20/2011; S. 1723), to his effort to filibuster programs that would help small businesses grow and create jobs (Senate votes #218 7/22/10, #221 7/29/10, #237 9/14/11; H.R. 5297). But Brown took no questions from the crowd, simply shouting ‘Go Patriots!’ before hustling out of the packed room.

Frustrated Bay Staters have sought Brown out for months to discuss these important issues— even traveling to the senator’s Washington, DC office in pursuit of answers. But Brown has consistently dodged constituent questions, and refuses to attend public town halls and open forums where unemployed residents’ concerns might be addressed.  Left with few other options, constituents have been forced to pay to attend private events where Brown is expected to take questions. Unfortunately the junior senator has ducked constituent inquiries at every turn.

“He doesn’t host town halls and he refuses to answer questions face-to-face. He won’t even take questions when constituents pay to see him,” said Carlos Pagon, who traveled an hour to question his senator. “How are we supposed to get answers from Sen. Brown on his anti-jobs votes?”

This release was submitted by Jason Stephany of MassUniting.org.