By John Dempsey, WLS-AM News

(CHICAGO) West Suburban Republican Congressman Peter Roskam says despite criticism for avoiding constituents at town hall meetings, he will continue to refuse to hold such meetings, saying they are unproductive and a waste of time.

Roskam told “The Big John and Ray Show” on WLS that such meetings will not accomplish anything.   “There’s a phenomenon now with social media and the town halls in particular, where people don’t go to talk to one another, they go to shout at one another and to create situations where it’s chanting and a bunch of nonsense.”

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has targeted Roskam for defeat in the 2018 election.   Roskam’s once conservative district has become much more liberal in recent years, according to election results.    Barack Obama won the once Republican stronghold of DuPage county in both the 2008 and 2012 elections​, and Hillary Clinton defeated Donald Trump  in DuPage in 2016.

All over the country, constituents angry at incumbent Republican Congressmen have packed town halls, often screaming and causing disruptions.    Republicans, including President Trump, have accused Democrats of sending “professional protesters” to those meetings, instead of constituents legitimately concerned about issues.

Roskam also told WLS he supports the Republican plan to replace Obamacare that was unveiled on Tuesday.   Roskam says he disagrees with his more conservative colleagues who say the plan does not go far enough to get government out of health care.   “There are some voices out there that have said, ‘Hey just repeal it.  Just call it a day and walk away from that.’   I’m not for that. I think we made a commitment during the course of the campaign to repeal it and replace it with something better.”

@ 2017 WLS-AM News