Lawler holds spirited Town Hall at Heritage Hills

SOMERS, N.Y. - Congressman Mike Lawler (R–17th Congressional District) held a lively Town Hall session on Oct. 1 at the Heritage Hills Activities Center in Somers. The event, hosted by the Heritage Hills 10 A Men Club (where women are also welcome) and led by resident Mike McBride, drew a crowd of more than 100 — including 47 women — the club’s largest turnout of the year. It marked Lawler’s fourth appearance at Heritage Hills since his first congressional run in 2022.

Reflecting tensions seen at similar public meetings nationwide, members of the Somers Police Department and Heritage Hills security were on hand. Before Lawler’s arrival, McBride urged attendees to maintain respectful dialogue, as had been shown to previous guest speakers.

Lawler began by addressing “the elephant in the room” — the government shutdown that began Oct. 1 — calling it “idiotic” and “needless chaos.” He said both parties shared blame, criticizing Democrats for “giving President Trump more power” by threatening permanent layoffs of federal employees, and Republicans for past shutdowns of their own.

He then turned to international affairs, citing his work on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and as chair of its Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee. On the ongoing war in Gaza, Lawler said Hamas remains “the sole impediment to peace” and added, “We want this war to come to an end.”

Lawler also highlighted the recently passed federal tax bill, which raises the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap from $10,000 to $40,000 — “a big win for New York,” he said — and provides income tax credits of up to $6,000 for 88% of seniors to offset taxes on Social Security income. He rejected critics’ claims that the measure favors “millionaires and billionaires,” noting that the SALT deduction increase applies only to those earning under $500,000 annually.

Audience questions were pointed and frequent. When attendees interrupted, Lawler reminded them, “You asked your question — let me answer it.” McBride eventually limited each person to one question so more could be heard.

One heated topic was the new Medicaid controls. Lawler denied that Medicaid would face deep cuts, noting that spending is still projected to rise 25% over the next decade. He said the reforms aim to curb fraud, estimated at $50 billion annually, and include new work, school, or volunteer requirements — at least 80 hours per month — for able-bodied adults. He pointed out that New York has the most expansive Medicaid program in the nation, spending 83% more per capita than the national average, including $1.2 billion for non–New York residents. Lawler criticized Governor Hochul for supporting Medicaid benefits for undocumented immigrants, which the new regulations prohibit.

On the government shutdown, Lawler blamed both parties for failing to modernize the budget process, calling it “broken for thirty years.”

Discussing the Second Amendment, Lawler said he supports “common sense gun control,” though he opposes a ban on semi-automatic weapons, arguing that most modern firearms can be converted to semi-automatics. He voiced support for restrictions on non-metallic “ghost guns” and said any crime involving a firearm — even if it isn’t fired — should be prosecuted.

When asked about Holtec’s decommissioning of Indian Point and its release of low-level radioactive wastewater into the Hudson River, Lawler said the practice has long been in place, even while the plant was active. Citing his 91-year-old grandfather, an environmental engineer and professor at Manhattan College, he said the discharge poses “de minimis” risk.

Lawler also addressed tariffs enacted during the Trump administration, acknowledging that they have raised consumer costs but arguing they are a necessary tool to pressure foreign nations toward fairer trade practices.

Finally, on whether he supports using the military to supplement local law enforcement in high-crime areas, Lawler said he opposes using the standing military but supports deploying the National Guard when needed. He cited a reduction in crime in Washington, D.C., following National Guard deployment, and praised Governor Hochul’s use of the Guard to address subway safety and replace prison staff shortages.