Westmoreland Democrats to hold town hall to address proposed Trump budget

Westmoreland County Democrats will convene a town hall meeting next week in Greensburg to address potential cuts in federal social service programs.

The event, scheduled for 6 p.m. May 19 at Greensburg Hose Co. No. 1, will feature former U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb and Martin O’Malley, who served as commissioner of the U.S. Social Security Administration in the Biden Administration.

“There’s definitely a situation in Pennsylvania’s 14th District where there’s a leadership vacuum. Not in many years have we heard from and been visited by Rep. Reschenthaler,” said Democratic committee chairwoman Michelle McFall, who along with Westmoreland County Labor Council is organizing the session.

“Our residents need answers on the subject of what is happening in Washington with Medicaid and to their Social Security, so it’s up to us to provide that,” McFall said.

Lamb, a Mt. Lebanon Democrat, briefly represented Westmoreland County voters in Washington before a statewide redistricting in 2018 redrew Pennsylvania’s Congressional Districts. Lamb served two additional terms representing a district that includes parts of Allegheny and Beaver counties.

Guy Reschenthaler, a Republican from Peters, was reelected to his fourth term in office last November representing a heavily Republican-leaning 14th District, which includes about two thirds of Westmoreland County along with Washington, Fayette, Greene, Indiana and Somerset counties.

Reschenthaler has local district offices in Washington County and in Latrobe.

McFall said the congressman will be invited to attend the town hall.

Reschenthaler did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.

Speakers are expected to discuss how potential spending cuts unveiled in the recent budget proposal from President Donald Trump could impact social programs.

“We are hosting this because Pennsylvania 14 is not a competitive district and it’s likely not going blue anytime soon. It’s up to our party to do this because if they won’t bring a town hall here, we will do it ourselves. We have to provide answers because we are represented by someone who has disenfranchised us,” McFall said.

Organizers said there is limited seating for the event. The fire hall can accommodate about 250 people, McFall said.

Preregistration on the Westmoreland County Democratic Committee’s website is required to attend the town hall.