Click here to listen to WGXC's Congressional report, a look back at the week in news for Rep. John Faso (R-Kinderhook). Last week, Faso announced he was voting for the Republican healthcare plan before the bill was pulled from the House floor. Faso explained this week why he would have voted for the bill, and then veered left, voting with Democrats on several bills that passed with overwhelming Republican support.

Click here to hear all about Rep. John Faso's week in Washington D.C.

Patricia R. Doxsey reports in The Daily Freeman that U.S. Rep John Faso (R-Kinderhook) believes his constituency is evenly divided on health care without providing any facts to support that claim. It is true that Faso's Congressional district is closely split between Republicans and Democrats, and he says, “I would say that my constituency is pretty divided on this whole [healthcare] question. A lot of people want to see the A.C.A. or a single-payer system, and just as many people, in my view, want to see us get rid of the A.C.A. I’m trying to listen to both sides.” Faso’s office reports 54,000 telephone calls and emails from constituents since he took office Jan. 3. Faso's office, unlike many other representatives, refuses to release specific numbers on the opinions of his phone callers, but Faso has conceded that “most of the calls” are in favor of keeping or improving the current healthcare system. Faso has refused to hold town hall meetings, but activists have held one for him, and also several protests, marches, and rallies, with most attending opposed to repealing the current healthcare system. In January, Faso polled subscriber's to his online newsletter, asking, “Do you support the reform of the Affordable Care Act to lower costs and expanding access to health care?” 432 computers responded “yes,” 406 responded “no,” and 95 claimed an “undecided” status. That very unscientific online poll is the only fact Faso has said that backs up his claim that his constituents are divided on the healthcare issue. Last week, Faso voted for the new Republican healthcare plan in committee, and announced he would vote for it on the House floor before Republican leadership pulled the bill because it was not going to pass. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.

Rep. John Faso (R-Kinderhook) was one of 15 Republicans voting with Democrats March 28 on SJ Res 34, a bill that gives internet service providers access to internet browsing histories. Republicans passed the bill that rolls back previous privacy rules by a vote of 215-205. The Senate voted last week 50-48 along party lines in favor of the measure. The bill prohibits the Federal Communications Commission from addressing the issue again, and President Donald Trump is expected to sign the bill. Previously, ISPs would need permission before collecting data on a user's online activity.

Maury Thompson at The Post Star reports that for the second day in a row, Rep. John Faso (R-Kinderhook) broke with Republicans and voted with Democrats in a losing cause on March 29. Faso was one of seven Republicans voting against legislation to prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency from finalizing a rule unless the scientific evidence used as the basis was specifically identified and made available for public review. HR 1430 passed by a 228-194 despite privacy objections. “This bill could negatively impact the EPA’s efforts to make scientifically informed policy decisions,” said Elise Stefanik, another upstate New York representative voting against the measure. Read the full story at The Post Star.

The Los Angeles Times and others reported that Vice President Mike Pence cast a tie-breaking vote March 30 to advance legislation from the U.S. Senate that rolls back rules preventing states from withholding federal funds to Planned Parenthood. The House passed the same measure Feb. 16, but Rep. John Faso (R-Kinderhook) was one of only two Republicans to vote against the measure, which passed 230-188. President Donald Trump is expected to sign the bill.