Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley billed the March 11 meeting as a “town hall.” The meeting was in the main meeting room of the Lehigh County administrative building on 7th Street just off Hamilton Street. The Civil War Monument symbolizing brotherhood between the North and the South towered over the nearby intersection.

But from the start, the meeting had a politicized atmosphere.

Joe Vichot, chair of the Lehigh Valley Republican Party. attended and soon challenged Pinsley by questioning the propriety of using Lehigh County resources such the room, security and staff to promote what he called a political event. Pinsley acknowledged that to some people it may seem to be a political event, but assured Vichot and the audience that it was an informative, non-political town hall. However, as he spoke he was flanked by posters urging the reader to defeat the Trump agenda.

He had also introduced his co-host Dwayne Heisler, the campaign director of Harrisburg-based Pennsylvania Policy Center. a lobbying organization as indicated by their website: https://pennpolicy.org/no-to-trump-cuts/

Pinsley said he would do the educational part of the meeting and Heisler would do the townhall where everyone could talk.

“We are talking about our beloved Medicaid which Congress has said they want to fix, and started by lighting fire to it,” Pinsley said opening his part of the meeting.

Pinsley said he wanted to talk about the role of county controller versus DOGE [Department of Government Efficiency]. DOGE, he said, is supposed be about fraud, waste and abuse.

“What do you think the controller is about? Fraud, waste and abuse. That’s what we are trained to do with auditors that have actually been trained as auditors.”

Pinsley said that the meeting was the first of several town halls he has planned and described the purpose of the townhall as a “winter storm warning” in that cuts to Medicare may not happen, but “we need to be prepared.”

He reminded the audience that Medicare is for the elderly or those over 65, while Medicaid is for low-income people and those who rely on assistance.

“Does cutting Medicaid actually save us money?” Pinsely asked. “Maybe. Probably not. It’s probably going to come back through increased hospital visits or increased taxes, or it’s going to come back some other way [like] we are just not helping our citizens enough.”

Next, Pinsley discussed filial responsibility law, a law that makes a person responsible for their parent’s or adult child’s nursing home bills. He said that Medicaid pays a share of that expense, but not all.

“This law is very rarely used, however if Medicaid goes away or is reduced, I’ll bet you that law is going to be used more and more.”

Pinsley urged the attendees to call their representatives to get the filial responsibility laws changed and to talk to their friends because even if they are not directly affected by cuts in Medicaid, they will be affected by higher taxes to make up shortfalls in the budget.

Pinsley went on to explain that there are three ways Medicaid cuts affect the local taxpayer: higher taxes, fewer county services, increased hospital costs and insurance premiums.

He said the Lehigh County budget currently faces a $4 million shortfall. “That’s before any Medicaid cuts.”

His supposed loss of Medicare funds was challenged.

“It could be 20, it could be 30, it could be a 50 percent cut,” said a member of the audience.

“That’s right,” Pinsley said. “Or it could be none. We don’t know. This is winter storm warning.”

Again, the political nature of the gathering was questioned.

“You are up here with ‘Stop Trump’s agenda’ posters,” offered another voice from the audience. “This is more of a campaign event.”

Joe Vichot, the chair of the Republican Party of Lehigh Valley, agreed.

“You are using your office as auditor and talking about Medicaid cuts and you have no idea what’s going to happen,” Vichot said from the floor when Pinsley has finished his part of the presentation. “That’s beyond the scope of what your title is.”

“That’s not true,” Pinsley responded. “I write all of the checks.”

“Yes, but you audit what the executive branch is doing,” Vichot said. “Philip Armstrong is not here nor are any of his representatives to back up what you’re saying. Maybe somebody from [the executive’s office] should have been here to confirm what you are saying. It might have been better if you had this at another facility, instead of of working against…”

“I’m not working against anyone,” Pinsley said interrupting Vichot. “I don’t believe this is partisan in any way. I know this is an emotional issue for everyone. It does feel like its partisan to some people. I’ve tried very hard not to be partisan. However, the information should scare you. There’s a winter storm warning, so do what you need to do.”