The new Republican administration in Washington, D.C., is using “alternative facts” to lie to us.

So actions speak even louder in this time when words mean so little. Actions already taken in this new legislative session by Dave Reichert, U.S. House 8th District, include the following:

1) Reichert voted to gut the Office of Congressional Ethics;

2) Reichert voted to lay the groundwork to repeal the Affordable Care Act, threatening the health insurance of 32 million citizens (please remember a voucher is not health insurance and there is no replacement plan);

3) Reichert’s local Issaquah office stopped having real people answer the phone and put in place an unfriendly and unwelcoming automated system; and

4) His local office locked constituents out and would not listen to their concerns, such as “What is your position on the repeal of the Affordable Care Act?” and “Will you hold a town hall to listen to your constituents?”

I believe government is intended to work for us and help make everyone’s life better, especially for those less fortunate. Based on his actions Dave Reichert clearly thinks otherwise. Sad.

We deserve better. We will work for better, every day.

Mark Joselyn

North Bend

Editor’s Note: Since publication of this letter, Congressman Reichert’s spokesperson Breanna Deutsch contacted the Record to respond to some of Joselyn’s complaints. She noted that the Issaquah office doors are always locked for security reasons, but visitors are welcome and citizens are allowed access by appointment. She also said that a group of citizens who attempted to enter the office last Wednesday did not have an appointment for that day, but had earlier been contacted by Reichert’s district office director to set up a meeting for later in the week.