How is Minnesota's Delegation Getting Input on Health Care?

During the summer break, members of Congress returning to their home districts have been getting swamped with visits, letters, calls and emails from constituents concerned about the health care reform bill advanced by President Obama and congressional Democrats. Those who’ve braved town hall meetings have often encountered large crowds of angry constituents. As a result, many members of congress are reticent about conducting public forums with their constituents.

A few members of Minnesota’s congressional delegation have braved the unwashed masses, hosting poorly publicized town hall meetings on very short notice. Regardless of the apparent attempt to keep constituents away, large crowds found their way to the forums.

 

Rep. Tim Walz (D – MN – 1^st District) is holding a town hall meeting in Mankato on Thursday August 20^th from 6-8 PM at the Mankato East High School Auditorium (2600 Hoffman Road, Mankato, MN).

 

Rep. John Kline (R – MN – 2^nd District) participated in a recent “roundtable discussion” on health care in Burnsville, but has so far announced no plans to hold a town hall meeting during the August break. His website has a short health care survey.

 

Rep. Erik Paulsen (R – MN – 3^rd District) has avoided in-person town hall meetings, opting instead for an online survey and “tele-town hall.”

 

Rep. Betty McCollum (D – MN – 4^th District) held a town hall on health care in July and has thus far announced no plans for another.

 

Rep. Keith Ellison (D – MN – 5^th District) hosted a town hall meeting on a day’s notice in North Minneapolis, where a panel of supporters of the health care reform bill made their case. At the end of the meeting, constituents were offered the microphone for 40 seconds to make a comment, but Rep. Ellison refused to answer any questions about the bill.

 

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R – MN – 6^th District) is planning a health care forum in Woodbury on Thursday, August 27^th at Oak Land Jr. High School (820 Manning Ave N) from 1:45 PM to 4:00.  

 

Rep. Collin Peterson (D – MN – 7^th District) had previously said he doesn’t do town hall meetings, implying that his constituents are crazy as his excuse. After taking some well-deserved heat for his comments, Petersen reversed himself and hosted a town hall on health care in Willmar on August 14^th and held an additional one in Bemidji on the 17^th.

 

Rep. Jim Oberstar (D – MN – 8^th District) has no plans for any public forums on health care. He rarely engages his constituents in person. In fact, he seems so disengaged on this issue that he isn’t even soliciting direct contact from his constituents via his website, as most of his colleagues are doing. Instead, he invites constituents to comment on health care through the generic House of Representatives contact form.

 

Senators Franken (D – MN) and Klobuchar (D – MN) have thus-far announced no plans to conduct town hall meetings during the recess, however Sen. Klobuchar is planning a tele-town hall on Sunday, August 23^rd at 7:00 PM.