Unlike colleagues, Michigan congressman embraces town halls

(AP) — A Michigan congressman is embracing the town halls that many of his Republican counterparts have avoided as people lash out at President Donald Trump's early actions and the planned repeal of the federal health care law.

The events are earning Amash, one of Trump's most prominent GOP critics, some respect from angry Democrats who vehemently oppose many of the congressman's stances but credit him for listening to his constituents rather than ducking them.

Others "don't have the guts to come and take the heat like Justin Amash just did," said Deborah Look, 60, a retired special education teacher from Battle Creek who participated in the town meeting.

Reggie Dickson, 80, a retired principal from Battle Creek who voted for Trump to "drain the swamp" in Washington, said after the town hall that he likes Amash's adherence to the Constitution but is disappointed Amash never endorsed Trump, even after he won the GOP nomination.

Amash, who explains all his votes on social media, has made wide-ranging town halls a staple in western Michigan's 3rd Congressional District since 2011, when he took office amid the national tea party wave.

Amash was blunt when electrician Scott Markham of Kalamazoo criticized him for voting recently to block an Obama-era regulation that would prevent an estimated 75,000 people with mental disorders from being able to purchase a firearm.