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OUR OPINION: Forums allow congressmen to interact with public

By The News Tribune

Published: Friday, August 7, 2009 1:32 PM CDT

We encourage members of Missouriâ€™s congressional delegation to host public forums during the August recess.

The U.S. House of Representatives recessed last week, and the break for U.S. senators is scheduled to begin Friday.

Awaiting their return is action on health-care reform that could affect the welfare and wallets of every American. Soaring deficits, stimulus programs including â€œcash for clunkersâ€ and countless other issues also remain on the table.

A number of our readers have inquired if they will have an opportunity to voice their views on these and other issues at forums hosted by their elected representatives â€” including Rep. Ike Skelton, a Democrat whose 4th District includes Central Missouri, and senators Kit Bond, a Republican, and Claire McCaskill, a Democrat.

Public forums are scheduled regularly by Bond and McCaskill. The senators attend, if their schedule permits; if not, the forums are hosted by aides. None are scheduled in Central Missouri during August, but McCaskillâ€™s office is attempting to schedule one here.

Skelton does not conduct public forums regularly, although he is a frequent speaker at local events, including meetings of some organizations open to members and guests.

We encourage members of Congress to redouble efforts to make themselves available to Missourians.

We also urge Missourians to use the forums as intended â€” as an opportunity to pose questions and exchange ideas in a respectful manner.

A recent forum hosted in St. Louis by U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan descended into chaos â€” and resulted in six arrested â€” when a confrontation over health care reform erupted outside the site,

That issue and others now being debated in Congress have galvanized attention. Decisions made in Washington impact peopleâ€™s lives and livelihoods.

Will the quality of health care change? Will we continue to subsidize federal bailouts and programs, and if so, to what degree? Will our taxes increase?

Concerned citizens have critical questions and want to hear directly from the people elected to represent their best interests.

They, and we, would welcome opportunities to interact face to face.


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