U.S. Rep. Julie Johnson, at a town hall this week, pledged to hold such events in districts where the elected officials are “too chicken” to hold their own town halls.
(Photo by David Taffet/Dallas Voice)
DAVID TAFFET | Senior Staff Writer
Taffet@DallasVoice.com
In her first 100 days in office, U.S. Rep. Julie Johnson of Texas District 32 has sponsored five bills, co-sponsored another 81 and joined 20 caucuses — including the LGBTQ Congressional Equality Caucus.
And she’s gotten $2 million in grant funding paid for projects in her district.
And while the Republican Party has advised its elected officials to avoid holding town hall meetings because constituents who have been attending have been less than friendly, Johnson’s first town hall, held on Monday, April 21, drew a stand-room-only crowd that greeted her with repeated applause.
Johnson opened her town hall by welcoming audience members she recognized from districts whose representatives are avoiding their voters and said she’d be holding meetings in districts outside her own.
In her opening comments, Johnson said the best way to deal with the current economic and social turmoil is for everyone to all come together. But she acknowledged, “We’re all scared. … We’re seeing things happen in our country we never imagined.”
What can we do?
Before taking questions, Johnson laid out a four-part plan explaining what Democrats can do to counter President Donald Trump:
Legislate. Johnson said 83 bills have already been filed to temper what Trump can do. Democrats need three Republicans to vote with them, but, so far, none have crossed over. But, in an opening shot in the upcoming mid-term elections, she urged voters to hold them accountable for their inaction.
Litigate. Johnson said she’s on what she called the Litigation Task Force. As of this week, 190 lawsuits have been filed. Of those with rulings, 86 have been handed down in favor of the Democrats’ position, for a 93 percent win rate so far.
Communicate. Offer a counterbalance to the administration, she urged.
Agitate. “Every ounce of governmental power comes from the people,” Johnson reminded her audience. “It’s up to all of us. If you disagree, are afraid or have anxiety, it’s time to speak up.”
She joked that she had to make a decision on how to dress for the evening town hall meeting: “Should I look congressional or wear a Harvard t-shirt,” she said, referring to Trump’s threat to withhold $2 billion in grants and take away the school’s non-profit status.
“Harvard stood up,” she said. “Costco stood up. Reward those who say, ‘You’re not going to bully me, baby.’”
Questions
The first question from the audience concerned the dismantling of the Department of Education. Johnson said she met with Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and was shocked at her disregard for teachers.
Johnson said programs the Department of Education runs include those that monitor discrimination and special education — things the states have done a poor job overseeing.
She said the administration’s plan is to turn these programs over to the states to police themselves.
“The Department of Education is funded by Congress,” she said. “This is going to head to a constitutional crisis.”
But, Johnson said, she expects the courts to rule in Democrats’ favor once again.
Several audience members submitted a question about which Republicans are voting with Democrats and which Democrats are voting with Republicans.
Johnson said, “South Texas Democrats don’t always vote with us.” But there are some blue state Republicans “who have spoken up and criticized Trump.”
She said Democrats can work with them behind the scenes to add amendments to legislation or to kill bad bills.
But her hope is to gain a majority in the House in the 2026 election.
Commenting on DOGE and the suspension of grant funding, Johnson said, “All that money is flowing.”
And on all of the federal workers fired, she said, “I got some folks in District 32 rehired.”
On the misuse of personal information by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, Johnson suggested everyone has a right to know if private information was released to Elon Musk. She suggested filing a Freedom of Information Act request to find out.
“We want them to hear from millions of people,” she said, adding that she will be posting information on how to file a FOIA request on her website. “You don’t get to give my personal information to Elon Musk,” she declared.
On the possibility of Trump declaring martial law, Johnson said, “If they declare martial law, we’ve crossed a line never imagined.” But she said she hopes law enforcement and the military won’t cross that line, adding “I think Republicans would stand with the Constitution.”
Johnson commented that it was ironic we were discussing those things that contradict American democratic values on the 250th anniversary of the start of American Revolution.
But are we in a constitutional crisis?
“I think we’re close right now,” Johnson said.
Johnson closed her town hall meeting with a warning about the SAVE Act.
SAVE stands for Safeguard American Voter Eligibility and would require anyone updating their voter registration or registering for the first time to show a passport or birth certificate as proof of citizenship.
Registration would have to be done in person.
Johnson has offered an amendment that would allow voters to present the documentation online, but it was voted down.
Women who marry and change their name would have trouble registering because their name would have to match the birth certificate or passport.
Johnson also offered an amendment that would allow a married woman to present a marriage license as proof of name change. But that amendment, too, was voted down.
Johnson said she hopes the bill that passed the House would fail in the Senate. Clearly, she said, the bill was designed to disenfranchise women from voting.
Johnson ended with a few words to voters “from other districts whose representatives are too chicken to hold a town hall — I’ll be there.”