Rep. Baumgartner Holds Town Hall in Republic During 5th District Tour
Why It Matters
Eastern Washington residents in rural Ferry and Stevens counties got a rare direct line to their congressional representative Monday evening, raising pressing concerns about rural healthcare funding, agricultural trade policy, and border commerce during a town hall meeting in Republic, Washington.
What Happened
Rep. Michael Baumgartner stopped in Republic on Monday, May 4, as part of a “12 counties in 12 days” tour through Washington’s 5th Congressional District. The event, held at Republic Elementary School, marked the first of three planned town halls during the tour, with a second stop scheduled for Davenport on Tuesday.
Nearly 30 constituents attended the Republic meeting. Local elected officials including Rep. Andrew Engell, Rep. Hunter Abell, Sen. Shelly Short, and Stevens County Commissioner Mark Burrows were among those present. Earlier in the day, Baumgartner held a private fundraising event at a local venue in Colville, where a small group of protesters greeted him with boos and shouts upon his arrival. The school town hall, by contrast, proceeded without incident.
“Out of all the town halls I’ve done, this has been the most civil,” Baumgartner remarked at the Republic event.
Key Issues Raised
Rural Healthcare: Ferry County Health CEO Brian Lady and Chief Nursing Officer Zane Gibbons pressed Baumgartner on how Washington state plans to distribute funds from the Rural Health Transformation Program, a component of the Trump administration’s pending legislative package. Washington state is slated to receive $181 million to offset projected Medicaid funding shortfalls between 2026 and 2030.
Gibbons warned that more rural hospitals are seeking a share of that funding than the total will cover, and that his facility had come dangerously close to closure not long ago. State officials have yet to notify local hospitals on their individual allocations. Baumgartner acknowledged that large healthcare systems with legal and lobbying resources often capture a disproportionate share of available funds, and said state-level mandates and staffing requirements have driven up provider costs. He also criticized Washington’s decision to extend healthcare access to illegal immigrants, noting the state budgeted roughly $150 million in taxpayer funds for that purpose.
Northern Border Trade: A local resident raised concerns about the impact of ongoing trade tensions on businesses in border communities, saying Canadian consumers who once crossed into the region have largely disappeared. Baumgartner said he may travel to Ottawa in mid-June for a potential meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. He expressed skepticism about rhetoric suggesting Canada could become the “51st state,” calling it unproductive, and emphasized that the United States needs more allies, not fewer.
“It’s fine to battle over hockey,” Baumgartner said. “But America needs more allies, not less.” He also noted that while the Trump administration’s crackdown on the southern border has been effective in reducing illegal crossings and fentanyl trafficking, the northern border remains a separate concern for the region.
Farm Bill and Country of Origin Labeling: Ferry County rancher Dan O’Brien asked why Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling for beef and pork was not included in the 2026 Farm Bill, which recently passed the House and is now headed to the Senate — the first time a farm bill has advanced that far in eight years. Congress had repealed the labeling requirement in 2015 following retaliatory trade threats from Mexico and Canada. O’Brien argued that American consumers willingly pay a premium for U.S.-produced beef. Baumgartner said he sees the farm bill’s progress as a meaningful step forward for agriculture broadly, and indicated willingness to work with constituents on the labeling question. Baumgartner’s tour continues through the district’s 12 counties in the coming days. For context on other western candidates entering federal races, Wyoming’s Sam Mead recently announced a U.S. Senate bid.
By the Numbers
- Nearly 30 constituents attended the Republic town hall
- $181 million allocated to Washington state under the Rural Health Transformation Program
- $150 million budgeted by Washington state for illegal immigrant healthcare, per Baumgartner
- 3 town halls planned across the 12-county tour
- First farm bill to pass the House since 2018
What’s Next
Baumgartner’s district tour continues through the remainder of the week. He has indicated a possible trip to Ottawa in mid-June for discussions with Canadian officials on cross-border trade. The farm bill now moves to the Senate, where its fate — including any potential restoration of country-of-origin labeling — remains to be decided. Meanwhile, rural hospitals across Washington await word from state officials on their share of federal healthcare stabilization funds. The broader U.S. economy added 109,000 private-sector jobs in April, though rural communities in eastern Washington continue to face distinct economic pressures tied to trade and healthcare access.
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