Even with the addition of extra chairs and tables, the crowd gathered in the Robinson Junior High cafeteria overflowed to standing-room only. Over 200 people showed up for the Town Hall meeting hosted by Congressman Pete Sessions.
Sessions started the night with a short presentation detailing what he has accomplished in the House of Representatives. The presentation focused on the population growth seen in Texas, especially the Texas Triangle.
It also outlined the recent spending bill that passed the House, called the ‘one, big, beautiful bill’ – which Sessions says was necessary largely because of decisions made during the Obama
The presentation was interrupted by boos and call-outs from the crowd. After the meeting concluded, Sessions told KWBU it’s important to him to not only hold Town Halls, but allow this kind of crowd involvement.
"In elections, if you won 51 to 49, they call that victory," he explained. "But that means that 49% of people did not vote for you," and he still represents that portion. In McLennan County, Sessions won his 2024 race 67-33.
In the question and answer section, which lasted almost an hour and a half, participants asked a wide range of questions, from climate solutions to vaccines and due process. As chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Operations and the co-chairman of the DOGE Caucus, many of the questions were related to cuts made to Medicare, social security and Veteran Affairs operations.
Questions like, "With your support for the administration’s deep cuts to FEMA, where do you propose the money for the increased number of hurricanes, floods and other weather disasters like tornadoes – where is that aid for our fellow Texans going to come from?" and "How do you keep people from being cut off [social security] when you cut the staffing for it?"
Sessions responded to every question, though some participants wanted more of an answer. In response to a question about cut VA benefits, Sessions responded with "I invite you to my office and I will show you what we are doing."
That response was answered with jeers from the crowd.
Many of the participants came armed with questions. And there was a pointed effort by the McLennan County Democratic party to do just that.
Party Chairman, Mark Hays, says this was a way for the community to better understand Sessions’ positions.
"Representatives are supposed to hear the people," Hays said. "And the people get to make a decision at the next election, whether they like what’s going on."
Sessions says that’s why he feels town halls are so important.
"There were some people who felt like ‘well, town hall’s only about hearing [what we have to share]’ and I said no sir, it’s a two way street," Sessions said. "It’s a way for them to judge, did I hear them? Did I answer their questions? And I think I did"
While tensions were raised, no one was removed as in previous meetings.
The meeting was scheduled to end at 7:30 p.m., but lasted till 8:30 p.m. instead. Sessions says it was important to make sure that everyone who showed up to ask questions had an opportunity to do so.
